Ibrahim is fifteen. He should be in school, worried about exams. Instead, he has to take care of his family. He fled Gaza City in July with his family, seeking refuge in southern Gaza. One year into the crisis, as bombardment continues from the air and land, people continue to suffer, and survive, in unimaginably difficult circumstances. 1.9 million people have fled their homes since October of last year. Ibrahim is just one of them.

Sara’s father and brother died in a bombing. Sara and her mother sought refuge in a displacement camp. Sara’s mother was hurt, and Sara had to take care of her. One year into the crisis, as bombardment continues from the air and land, people continue to suffer, and survive, in unimaginably difficult circumstances. 1.9 million people have fled their homes since October 2023. Sara is just one of them.

The Humanitarian Situation Update is issued by OCHA Occupied Palestinian Territory twice a week. The Gaza Strip is covered on Tuesdays and the West Bank on Thursdays. The Gaza Humanitarian Response Update is issued every other Tuesday. The next Humanitarian Situation Update will be issued on 5 November.

West Bank, Al-Mirkez village. Mohammad was tending his sheep in January 2022 when his life turned upside down. Some of the animals were straying – but as he ran after them to guide them back, he tripped and slipped on an unexploded mine. He doesn’t remember anything after that. Over a week later, he woke up in the hospital in extreme pain. His hand was missing. Recovery was difficult, and he became depressed. As he tells it, “I didn’t only lose a hand, but also my will to return to normal life, my interest to do anything at all.”

In Dier Elbalah, Mahmoud is sheltering with his children in a tent. He and his wife regularly skip meals. “We eat less so the kids can eat at least one meal a day.” Six months into the hostilities, and as intense bombardment continues, people in Gaza continue to face hunger, trauma, and unsafe living conditions. People are hungry.Some 1.1 million Gazans are now experiencing catastrophic hunger – a number that has doubled in three months.

The small community of Qila, in Area C of the West Bank, has faced several challenges in recent decades. Displaced from their land for over twenty years, this Bedoiun community currently live about 12km northwest of Hebron. Like many communities, Qila lacked basic services and access to decent water and sanitation, leading to disease and difficult living conditions. “I was mostly concerned about the children, who were bitten by bugs attracted by the wastewater and then fell ill,” said Abu Waleed, leader of this community of about 60 people.

Since Ayla was born in early October 2023, her mother’s focus has been on keeping her safe and healthy. But, as the intense bombardment from air, land, and sea continues, it has been difficult to do so.

Rajab, a 13-year-old boy from northern Gaza was in the sixth grade when he started helping his father at work by collecting plastic to recycle. Determined to support his family, Rajab, who had nine siblings to care for, including two brothers with disabilities, found himself struggling academically. With conflict escalating, a lack of mental health services, and poor school infrastructure – as well as underlying poverty – the dire situation in the Gaza Strip limits children’s access to education.  

The Humanitarian Situation Update is issued by OCHA Occupied Palestinian Territory twice a week. The Gaza Strip is covered on Tuesdays and the West Bank on Thursdays. The Gaza Humanitarian Response Update is issued every other Tuesday. The next Humanitarian Situation Update will be issued on 31 October.