UN Warns of Growing Risks to Civilians in Gaza and West Bank

UN Warns of Growing Risks to Civilians in Gaza and West Bank
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The United Nations has expressed deep concern over the safety of civilians in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, warning that worsening humanitarian conditions and the approaching winter could further increase health and displacement risks.

UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said the UN remains “very concerned” about the safety of civilians in both Gaza and the West Bank. He said UN agencies and humanitarian partners are helping communities in Gaza prepare for the rainy season, but stressed that additional funding and access are urgently needed.

Citing World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Dujarric warned that public health risks are expected to increase as winter approaches, with many Palestinians still living in overcrowded tented sites. Tedros said Gaza’s already overwhelmed healthcare system would struggle to cope with any additional surge in disease and illness.

In the occupied West Bank, UN humanitarian officials reported that more than 6,400 Palestinians have been displaced from 130 communities since 2023 as a result of settler violence. More than 2,500 people have been displaced this year alone, with children accounting for more than half of those affected.

Dujarric said the humanitarian situation is being further worsened by repeated attacks, damage to homes and infrastructure, and restrictions on access to land and essential services. The UN is calling for greater humanitarian access and support to protect civilians and address their growing needs as winter approaches.