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 Home Overseas Projects The Middle East Project News
Occupied Palestinian Territories - Humanitarian Update, December 200722 January 2008Summary of monthly Humanitarian Monitor report produced by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). KEY ISSUES OVERVIEW Update on closure of Gaza crossingsThere was a slight increase in the number of goods allowed to enter Gaza in December compared to November. A total of 1,932 truckloads of goods, including 258 from humanitarian agencies entered Gaza compared to 1,813 in November. Following an agreement between Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Hamas, Rafah crossing was re-opened briefly for the exit and return of 2,335 pilgrims en route to Mecca for pilgrimage (hajj). Another 920 were able to leave through Erez and Kerem Shalom, while a further 960 were allowed to leave via Erez and Allenby Bridge. Also, on 31 December and I January, 202 Palestinians stuck in Egypt were allowed to cross into Gaza via Nitzana and Erez. Update on fuel shortages in the Gaza Strip There was an increase in fuel imports in December but not enough to prevent the depletion of the emergency reserves of the Gaza Power Generating Company (GPGC), Gaza's only power station, caused by sanctions imposed by Israel on the Gaza Strip. Supplies of petrol increased from 45,000 litres per day in November to 51,000 in December, and diesel went from 190,000 litres per day to 250,000. As temperatures fell in mid-December 2007, the GPGC was unable to meet the increased demand. Most Gazan families received no power from eight to 12 hours per week. Drought in southern West Bank The southern and eastern parts of the Hebron governorate and the eastern Bethlehem governorate are suffering from another year of drought. The combination of drought and high fodder prices is making the livelihood of herders unsustainable. Some herders are selling all their sheep; once the breeding stock are sold, it is impossible for them to return to the herding lifestyle. Given their lack of other resources and alternative livelihood options, they are very likely to become dependent on aid. Gaza's strawberry and carnation crop Strawberries and carnations are among the biggest cash crops produced in Gaza. Around 300 Gazan farmers currently grow strawberries and 72 grow carnations. These farmers rely on these cash crops as their main source of income and several thousand Gazans are employed at harvest time. In November, Israel agreed to allow the export of a limited proportion of Gaza's output of carnations and strawberries. According to FAO, the total strawberry harvest was 1,600 tonnes, of which 109 tonnes was exported. Decrease in purchasing power (WFP) There has been a major decrease in consumers' purchasing power in the West Bank and Gaza Strip in 2007, with the situation worse than 2006. According to PCBS, the unemployment rate in the Gaza Strip increased from 30.4% in the first quarter of 2007 to 32.9% in the third quarter 2007 and in the West Bank increased from 17.3% to 18.6%. This is combined with the steep increase in the price of all basic food commodities which force people to overuse negative copying strategies and lead to increased food insecurity levels, particularly in the Gaza Strip as confirmed by a recent World Food Program (WFP) rapid survey. Access of Palestinian patients through Erez checkpoint (WHO) While Erez checkpoint was open in December for humanitarian cases, access of patients to secondary and tertiary health care services in Israel, East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Jordan was denied for some patients. According to the District Coordination Office (DCO) health coordinator, of the 1,041 patients that applied in December, permits were granted to 669 (64.3%) patients, 156 (15%) were denied permits for security reasons and 216 (20.7%) applications were being processed. Out of these, at least six patients were denied access after being questioned by the Israeli authorities at Erez checkpoint. Deaths and injuries in 2007 In 2007, direct conflict deaths were largely accounted for by targeted killings (32%), military operations (28%), border incidents (15%), and undercover operations (8%). The majority (85%) of Palestinians killed this year were in the Gaza Strip, due to both direct conflict and internal violence. A total of 13 Israelis were killed this year, including four IDF soldiers during military operations in the oPt and four Israeli settlers in the West Bank. In Israel, three Israelis were killed in suicide bombings and two by Qassam rockets. soldiers. A total of 25 foreign citizens were injured in 2007, all in the West Bank and the majority (60%) during demonstrations against the Barrier in the Ramallah and Bethlehem governorates. Twenty-four percent were injured by Israeli settlers in the Hebron governorate; the rest, 76%, were injured by the IDF. View OCHA report Summary Monthly Statistics January 2005 - December 2007 from the OCHA Protection of Civilians database. REGIONAL OVERVIEW West Bank & East Jerusalem Stop work order issued against Technical College in Area C - The IDF issued a "stop work" order against the Palestine Technical College 'Arrub Campus, which is located along Route 60 in Area C (area under full Israeli control). The order (number 14221 and issued by the Civil Administration of Judea and Samaria) was delivered on 1 December 2007 prohibiting the completion of the second phase of the Technological Education Building (consisting of two stories and a theatre) on the campus. The order was issued on the basis of building without a permit. The first phase of the project was finished without any objection from the Israeli authorities. Obtaining a permit for construction in Area C is virtually impossible. This stop work order follows previous measures by the IDF to clear areas adjacent to Route 60 in the same area, including the cutting down of some 200 olive, cedar and apple trees in 2004. Gaza Strip Gaza's strawberry crop - The problems facing strawberry farmers were varied during the 2007 harvest. They lacked fertilizer and plastic sheeting to ensure the maximum quality of the fruit and they had no certainty that their crops would be exported. Israel agreed only to allow exports through the Kerem Shalom crossing point. During transit from Gaza, the strawberries were left uncovered for hours at Kerem Shalom, leading to a further reduction in quality. Consequently, Gaza produce was rendered far less competitive than that of its Egyptian neighbours, where farmers can produce cheaper fruit without the problems faced by their Gazan counterparts. In two years Gaza's strawberry exports have fallen from 1,030 tonnes in December 2005 to 109 tonnes in December 2007. Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs |
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