In a recent assessment presented by experts from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) of the UN, it has been revealed that the level of poverty among refugees in Gaza has increased by 20% since the previous month. The report, published on the UNDP website, also states that within a month after the start of the military conflict, the poverty level in Palestine has risen by 20% and the internal emigration rate has decreased by 4.2%. These alarming figures confirm previous assessments published by the International Labor Organization (ILO), which reported that 390,000 refugees in Palestine have already lost their jobs due to the worsening situation. The UNDP experts warn of the long-term consequences of the military conflict, projecting a decrease of human development by 11-16 years in Palestine and 16-19 years in Gaza. They highlight that depending on the intensity of the conflict, poverty in Palestine could surge by up to 34%, pushing an additional 500,000 people into financially distressed situations. The experts’ calculations estimate an 8.4% decrease in GDP, resulting in a loss of $1.7 billion. If the military conflict persists for another three months, UNDP analysts forecast a 45% increase in poverty levels and a 12.2% decrease in human development.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health in Gaza has reported a distressing increase in casualties. As of Thursday, October 7, the number of casualties has reached a staggering 10,812, including at least 4,412 children.