UNITED NATIONS, June 11 (Xinhua) -- The number of West Bank settler attacks causing casualties or property damage so far this year has surpassed 1,000, UN humanitarians said Thursday.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said the settler attacks have affected more than 230 communities across all parts of the West Bank.
"More than 2,200 Palestinians have been displaced this year due to settler violence and other access restrictions, alongside hundreds more who have been displaced due to home demolitions by Israeli authorities," OCHA said. "Last week, settler attacks resulted in the injury of more than 30 Palestinians and widespread damage to property, essential infrastructure and livelihoods."
The office said the current pace of settler attacks causing casualties or property damage, now averaging six incidents a day, is higher than in any year on record.
OCHA said its partners continue to support people in need, especially in Area C, East Jerusalem and other areas where the Palestinian authorities are not allowed to provide services directly.
The World Food Programme indicated that more than 300,000 people across the West Bank received food and cash assistance in May.
The office said its health partners are helping deliver essential services through a network of 870 service points, including 230 locations reached by mobile clinics. They warned that some health facilities in the West Bank had to reduce their operating days and working hours due to shortages in operating capacity, medicines, medical supplies and consumables, as well as access restrictions by authorities.
In Gaza, the Palestine Red Crescent Society reported that one of the two ambulance crew members detained Wednesday had been released. The other was still unaccounted for.
OCHA said that its mine action partners in Gaza reported that in the first week of June, they conducted 50 assessments of explosive hazards and supported debris removal and other humanitarian efforts. They were also raising awareness among children and adults of the risks associated with explosive ordnance and how to avoid them.
The office said its nutrition partners reported screening in May more than 77,000 children aged 6 to 59 months. More than 4 percent of them were identified as having acute malnutrition and admitted for treatment. Of over 53,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women screened in the month, a little more than 3 percent were admitted for treatment. ■
