The International Commission (ICSPR) Publishes a Fact Sheet Titled: 400 Days of Displacement – The Impact of Catastrophic Humanitarian Conditions on Displaced Persons in Gaza
Date: 2024-11-18
Press Release
The International Commission (ICSPR) Publishes a Fact Sheet Titled: 400 Days of Displacement – The Impact of Catastrophic Humanitarian Conditions on Displaced Persons in Gaza
The International Commission to Support Palestinian Rights (ICSPR) has released a fact sheet authored by researcher Lubna Deeb, addressing the catastrophic humanitarian conditions faced by Gaza residents due to the ongoing genocide, relentless Israeli aggression, and collective punishment over 400 days. This aggression has deprived citizens of their right to access essential health and humanitarian services. The forced displacement continues unabated, with border crossings, humanitarian corridors, and roads blocked, aid deliveries prevented, and Gaza’s citizens denied basic humanitarian assistance. This has led to an escalating humanitarian catastrophe and worsening famine.
The fact sheet documents ongoing massacres and killings, with over 53,163 deaths, including 11,815 women and 17,289 children. Approximately 86% of homes and buildings in Gaza have been destroyed, leaving more than 1 million displaced individuals homeless. Around 600,000 displaced persons now live in 92 shelter schools, while nearly 1 million others reside in tents, half of whom have been forced to live along the coastline. The so-called “safe zones,” as defined by the occupation, now comprise only 36 km², accounting for just 9.5% of Gaza’s total area.
The report highlights the suffering of 1.8 million displaced individuals due to lack of hygiene and environmental pollution caused by the smell of gunpowder and dust from ongoing demolitions. With 84% of Gaza’s population using firewood as an alternative to cooking gas, environmental pollution caused by war and overpopulation is estimated at 97%. Furthermore, Gaza is unable to manage 80,000 tons of solid waste.
Right to Food:
The fact sheet reveals that over 900,000 families are suffering from acute hunger and food shortages, unable to meet basic life requirements. Dozens have died from famine, with the Ministry of Health documenting 36 cases. Furthermore, 98% of families lack access to clean drinking water, as 97% of Gaza’s water supply is contaminated. The stoppage of desalination plants has made access to safe water nearly impossible.
Right to Health:
The fact sheet notes that 25 out of 35 hospitals are out of service or partially operational, while 51 of 72 primary care centers are non-functional. Additionally, 1,047 health workers have been killed, and at least 310 medics, doctors, and nurses have been detained and subjected to inhumane treatment.
More than 100 people have died due to medical equipment failures caused by electricity and fuel shortages. Thousands of injured individuals are being treated without anesthetics. Cases of scabies have reached 65,000 due to a lack of cleaning supplies, while 103,000 have lice, and 33,000 suffer from bacterial infections due to shared sanitation facilities. Hepatitis infections have reached 100,000 cases.
Psychological Impact:
The fact sheet shows that 73% of men and women are experiencing psychological illnesses such as depression and anxiety.
Right to Education:
The report highlights the destruction of 377 schools and 112 university buildings and research institutes in Gaza, either completely or partially damaged. Around 630,000 school students and 88,000 university students have had their education disrupted, with only 20,000 students managing to continue their studies after a year through online programs and similar initiatives.
Right to Work:
The fact sheet states that 428,400 people, mostly men, have lost their jobs due to the war.
The ICSPR emphasizes that the Israeli occupation has violated all principles of international humanitarian law, international human rights standards, and decisions of the UN Security Council, General Assembly, and the International Court of Justice. The fact sheet calls for urgent international and Arab intervention to end Israeli aggression, genocide, forced displacement, blockade, and starvation. It urges ensuring the flow of humanitarian aid, providing international protection for Palestinians, and mobilizing all forms of humanitarian support and solidarity from free people worldwide.
