Gaza Humanitarian Response | Situation Report No. 63

20 Jan 2026

As of 18:00 on 19 January 2026, unless otherwise noted

This report, issued every Tuesday and Friday, outlines efforts and progress made by the UN and its partners to scale up the humanitarian response across the Gaza Strip under the ceasefire that entered into effect on 10 October 2025. The next report will be issued on 23 January. For all situation reports see here.

HIGHLIGHTS

As of 17 January, 25 Food Security partners continued to prepare and deliver 1,672,000 hot meals daily, including 512,000 meals in northern Gaza and 1,160,000 meals in the south.
Between 14 and 17 January, Shelter Cluster partners reached 12,637 households with emergency shelter and non-food items through in-kind and voucher-based modalities. Assistance included tents, tarpaulins, bedding items, and kitchen sets.
The second round of the catch‑up child immunization campaign began on 18 January and will run for 10 days. The campaign, conducted through 170 fixed and mobile teams, aims to reach about 18,000 children under the age of three during this round.
On 19 January, WHO facilitated the evacuation of 21 patients and 36 companions out of Gaza for treatment in Jordan.

SITUATION OVERVIEW

Between 15 and 18 January, reports of airstrikes, shelling and gunfire continued across the Gaza Strip.

On 21 January, the Israeli military dropped leaflets in Bani Suhaila, eastern Khan Younis, located east of the so-called “Yellow Line” ordering people to evacuate immediately. OCHA estimates that more than 400 families remain in the area and partners have not yet observed any movement.

According to the Site Management Cluster’s (SMC) winter alert dashboard, an additional 89 displacement sites have been affected by strong winds, heavy rains, and flooding between 12 and 16 January, beyond the 106 sites that already reported storm-related impact at the end of last week. Overall, an additional 4,000 households, or nearly 17,000 people, have been affected, and approximately 1,400 have been displaced from Khan Younis to Gaza city. The Ministry of Health in Gaza also reports that a 27-day old infant and a six-months-old baby died due to the cold between 17 and 20 January, bringing total reported child deaths from the cold to nine since the beginning of the winter season.

Recent adverse weather conditions also continue to impact the food security response. Partners have reported that home gardening sites have been damaged by flooding or become inaccessible to families. Stock losses caused by spoilage or rain exposure during entry into the Strip have also increased and are expected to continue throughout the winter unless access impediments are lifted. This has added pressure on partners’ already limited warehouse capacity and further saturated existing disposal mechanisms in the Strip.

The Shelter Cluster and the Cash Working Group, in collaboration with REACH-IMPACT, published the results of a recent market monitoring exercise on shelter and household items. The assessment, conducted between 13 and 18 December, covered 55 markets and included interviews with 732 vendors of shelter and household items across the Gaza Strip.

Market monitoring indicates that supply conditions remained relatively stable during the reporting period, supported by the continued entry of both humanitarian and commercial commodities. Despite this, prices of basic food and non‑food items remain high, with ongoing short-term volatility. The Gaza Consumer Price Index continues to register prices well above the pre‑war baseline, signaling sustained pressure on household purchasing power and reinforcing the crucial role of MPCA in enabling access to essential goods. However, liquidity constraints persist, and cash‑out commissions remain elevated (around 15 per cent in January), continuing to erode the real value of assistance received by households.

In a statement issued on 19 January, the World Food Programme (WFP) stressed that critical progress has been made in pushing back famine, with the agency and its partners assisting more than one million people every month through food parcels, bread bundles, hot meals and school meals, supporting 60,000 households monthly through digital cash assistance to buy food from local markets and reaching 200,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women and children under five with malnutrition prevention and 14,000 women with treatment every month, while warning that food security gains remain fragile. WFP called for additional safe humanitarian corridors from Egypt and Jordan, and the reopening of Salah Ad Deen Road inside Gaza, to increase volumes and reduce insecurity.

The Mekorot pipeline serving Gaza city – the largest single water source for the north -- was damaged, and an assessment identified the need for a 30‑meter section of 24‑inch steel pipe that is not available in Gaza. As a result, 60 per cent of Gaza city has been affected by water service disruptions

UNITED NATIONS-COORDINATED AID ENTRY^*

Between 16 and 19 January, at least 2,857 pallets of aid administered by the UN and its partners were offloaded at Gaza’s crossings, based on data retrieved from the UN2720 Mechanism dashboard at 17:00 on 20 January. About 60 per cent of these pallets contained food, followed by shelter (19per cent), WASH supplies (9 per cent), health items (8 per cent), education (3 per cent) and nutrition assistance (2 per cent).

During the same reporting period, UNOPS international monitors deployed at Gaza’s crossings verified the collection of at least 7,136 pallets of aid – 6,039 from Kerem Shalom Crossing and 1,097 from Zikim Crossing. These comprised inter alia over 4,120 pallets of food assistance, more than 2,230 pallets of shelter items including tents, blankets, tarpaulins and kitchenware, over 650 pallets of WASH items, such as water tap stands and hygiene kits, 93 pallets of animal feed, and 37 pallets of educational kits.

Overall, between the announcement of the ceasefire on 10 October 2025 and 19 January 2026, at least 246,264 pallets of humanitarian cargo were offloaded, and 239,927 pallets were collected from the various crossings. Some 1,532 pallets, less than one per cent of all uplifted aid, were intercepted during transit within Gaza.

*The above data does not include bilateral donations and the commercial sector.

On 18 January, UNOPS conducted a major fuel collection and delivery operation via Kerem Shalom as part of its humanitarian fuel import framework. The mission involved UNOPS fuel staff, UN 2720 monitors, two UNOPS vehicles and 12 fuel tankers. A total of 390,450 litres of diesel were loaded, transported and secured at a UNOPS-affiliated fuel facility, for onward distribution following partner prioritization and allocation.

Between 16 and 19 January, a total of 20 humanitarian movements requiring coordination with Israeli authorities were reported. Of these, 11 movements (55 per cent) were facilitated, enabling inter alia the movement of food, health, WASH and fuel supplies, as well as the medical evacuation of patients to Jordan for specialized treatment (see below). Four movements faced impediments (20 per cent) but were eventually fully accomplished. Four other movements (20 per cent) were cancelled by the organizing agencies, while one mission -- an exploratory mission to assess the feasibility of upcoming medical evacuations from Rafah -- was denied by the Israeli authorities.

HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE

The below are preliminary updates shared by Clusters at the time of reporting and will be reconciled and aggregated in the coming days as Clusters receive more data from the capillary network of partners active on the ground.

Food Security

As of 17 January, 25 Food Security Sector partners continued to prepare 1,672,000 hot meals daily through 183 kitchens; these include 512,000 meals through 48 kitchens in northern Gaza and 1,160,000 meals through 135 kitchens in southern Gaza. To promote and strengthen hygiene practices at cooking facilities, partners are coordinating with Health and WASH actors to ensure an adequate supply of soap and its proper use by workers in community kitchens.
Household-level general food distributions continue. As of 11 January, partners had reached more than 86,000 families (410,000 people) with a full ration of two wheat flour bags and two food boxes as part of the monthly distribution cycle.
In January, partners brought in approximately 370 metric tons (mt) of animal feed, with additional shipments arriving each week. One round of distribution to around 2,050 herders, providing three 50‑kg bags of feed per animal holder, was completed in the first half of January, and a second round targeting the same group began on 18 January. In addition, 242 donkey owners supporting essential services also received fodder and veterinary kits.
Partners continue working to strengthen communication with beneficiaries, ensuring families receive sufficient notice to collect their assistance once they are notified and clearly understand the type and quantity of assistance, they are eligible to receive, particularly given the frequent changes in available items over the past two months, which has challenged information sharing.

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene

The Mekorot pipeline serving Gaza city – the largest single water source for the north -- was damaged, and an assessment identified the need for a 30‑meter section of 24‑inch steel pipe that is not available in Gaza. As a result, 60 per cent of Gaza city has been affected by water service disruptions. In response, WASH partners are scaling up water trucking and identifying alternative sources. Meanwhile, a partner’s request for access to repair the Safa wells, another major water source for Gaza city, was denied on 19 January by the Israeli authorities.
Between 16 and 18 January, cluster partners facilitated the entry of enough water treatment chemicals to meet needs until the end of March. However, pesticides needed for vector control activities have been denied entry.
In recent weeks, partners have facilitated the entry of 16 tipper trucks, 75 solid waste containers, and tires for solid waste vehicles, which will help scale up waste collection across the Strip, noting that capacity varies significantly between the south and the north. In southern Gaza, solid waste collection is currently keeping pace with waste production. However, two of the temporary dumpsites are now full, and the two largest sites have only two months of capacity left, with the cluster requiring decongestion to transport waste to long‑term sites. In northern Gaza, no viable solid waste sites are currently available, and waste collection does not meet production levels. The temporary sites in use are already over capacity but continue to receive waste. Development of a new site in Abu Jarad, in Gaza city, is underway but will take at least one month before it can begin receiving waste.
Between 16 and 18 January, selected shelter sites received a range of services, including 1,247 cubic metres (m³) of water delivered through trucking, more than 7,000 m³ of water produced from wells, 976 tons of waste transported, 12 pest control campaigns held, 115 hygiene promotion sessions delivered, and 118 storm drain manholes cleared.
Between 16 and 18 January, cluster partners distributed 1,610 latrines for people with disabilities, 1,400 hygiene kits, and 494,000 bars of soap across the Strip.

Health

The second round of the catch‑up immunization campaign began on 18 January and will run for 10 days. The campaign aims to improve the immunization status of children under three years of age. Vaccinations are being provided through 170 fixed and mobile teams, with the target of reaching 17,892 children during this round. A third and final round is planned for April.
On 19 January, WHO facilitated the evacuation of 21 patients and 36 companions out of Gaza for treatment in Jordan.
As part of ongoing health facility expansion efforts, partners expanded the emergency department and triage area of the Al Amal Hospital in Khan Younis. The facility has also begun providing inpatient and outpatient ophthalmology services. Furthermore, a number of prefabricated structures have been installed in hospitals and primary healthcare centres across the Strip to increase capacity.
Following the launch of Limb Reconstruction Screening Programme at Nasser Medical Complex on 7 January, 120 patients have thus far been screened. At least 30 patients (25 per cent), were identified as having complex limb injuries requiring major reconstructive surgeries. It is estimated that around 20,000 patients require major limb reconstruction interventions and long‑term rehabilitation, while orthoplastic supplies remain limited.

Shelter

Between 14 and 17 January, Shelter Cluster partners delivered emergency shelter and non-food items (NFIs) assistance through in-kind and voucher-based modalities, reaching a total of 12,637 households. Distributions included 1,389 tents, 6,866 tarpaulins, 25,070 bedding items, 2,271 kitchen sets and 2,348 clothing kits and vouchers.
In addition, as part of an inter-sectoral joint response to storm-related incidents, partners distributed 661 tents and 319 clothing kits, along with blankets and tarpaulins, to 661 households across the Strip, providing support to families whose shelter was affected by heavy rainfalls.

Site Management

Between 16 and 18 January, Site Management Cluster (SMC) partners actively carried out site improvement and maintenance works across 184 sites across the Strip, engaging 894 displaced people through Cash for Work (CFW) initiatives. Activities included constructing water channels, backfilling areas with sand, particularly where soil conditions are poor, cleaning and removing debris. Site committees with 899 participants, including over 292 women, played a key role in identifying needs and implementing these community‑driven activities. Additional community-led initiatives, supported by US$5,000 cash grants per site across 40 sites, focused on lighting installations, waste decommissioning, and minor shelter repairs for vulnerable families.
SMC partners also continued winter response efforts distributing 293 baby kits to infants across 27 sites across the Strip, with another 94 kits yet to be distributed. Referrals were made to Shelter and Protection partners for incident follow‑up and support with birth certificates. In collaboration with WASH partners, awareness sessions were held on the risks of open pit usage and safe decommissioning of unused pits. Safety audits in nine sites in Deir Al Balah resulted in targeted improvement interventions, including shelter and lighting installations, some of which are scheduled for completion within the week.
Despite progress, several challenges continue to hinder winterization efforts. A major obstacle is the difficulty in securing fuel required for sand trucking and solid‑waste management operations. Another pressing issue is the shortage of sandbags: supplies are unavailable, and the flour bags used as substitutes are in limited supply. Ongoing market shortages and poor quality of locally available tools further reduce the efficiency of maintenance work. In response to increased needs, Food Security partners notified SMC of 20,000 additional flour sacks available for collection, and SMC will coordinate distribution among partners to help address these gaps.

Protection

Between 15 and 18 January, partners conducted activities across Gaza city, North Gaza, Deir al Balah and Khan Younis, reaching over 20,000 people.
Over 7,500 people participated in protection against sexual exploitation and abuse and safeguarding awareness sessions. Partners delivered 186 legal consultations, 39 legal awareness workshops, over 1,000 individual and group mental health and psychosocial support sessions, and more than 500 rehabilitation and therapy sessions. They also distributed more than 350 food parcels and more than 400 protection‑sensitive NFIs, health, and dignity kits. Fifty protection practitioners were trained, and more than 30 staff received wellbeing and self‑care support.
Demand for explosive ordnance risk education (EORE), safeguarding and legal awareness remains high amid continued displacement. Persistent gaps in shelter, NFIs, WASH and energy supplies are increasing protection risks, reinforcing the need for integrated responses and ongoing support for staff wellbeing.
Child Protection
- Between 15 and 18 January, Child Protection partners reached over 4,400 children and more than 2,600 caregivers through psychosocial, recreational and rehabilitation, as well as case management services.
- As part of ongoing winterization support, partners reached over 1,900 children with winter clothing, and over 3,800 with blankets in Khan Younis, while 466 winterization kits were distributed in Al Shatea Camp in northern Gaza. Additional winter support included the provision of shoes to 217 children aged 4–7 years in multiple displacement camps and clothing kits for 229 children aged 2–4 years in Gaza City, with blankets also provided to their families.
- Prevention and awareness activities benefited more than 3,800 children and caregivers across all areas. Sessions covered family separation risks, reporting of child protection concerns, exploitation, and abuse risks, and EORE messages tailored to children, caregivers and children with disabilities.
Prevention of Gender-Based Violence (GBV):
- Between 15 and 18 January, activities addressing Gender-Based Violence (GBV) continued across the Strip through the coordinated efforts of partners:
  - Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) support was scaled up through the distribution of 6,700 MHM materials to women and girls across Gaza.
  - Targeted assistance was also extended to female‑headed households at heightened risk of GBV, including the provision of 15 emergency tents. This support contributed to improved safety, privacy and living conditions for women and girls facing increased protection risks.
  - Multi‑sectoral GBV prevention and addressing services continued through 56 Women and Girls’ Safe Spaces across Gaza, reaching approximately 5,699 women and girls. Services were delivered in line with survivor‑centered and do‑no‑harm principles and included psychosocial support, GBV case management, legal awareness and information on GBV risks, available services, and referral pathways.
Mine Action
- Between 15 and 18 January, partners conducted 74 Explosive Hazard Assessments in support of debris removal activities, while also conducting critical access route assessments in Deir al Balah.
- During the same period, four EORE sessions were conducted across the Strip, reaching 5,600 people.
- No new explosive ordnance incidents were recorded.

Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA)

Between 15 and 18 January, Cash Working Group (CWG) partners distributed Multi‑Purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA) to over 6,800 households across the Strip. Each household received NIS1,250 (approximately US$378) through digital payment modalities, in line with the agreed Minimum Expenditure Basket transfer value.

* All figures solely refer to UN and partner assistance dispatched through the UN-coordinated system. They are preliminary and will be reconciled in the course of the ceasefire. Supplies entering through bilateral donations and the commercial sector are not reflected.