Occupied Palestinian Territories - Humanitarian Update, June 2008

Summary of monthly Humanitarian Monitor report produced by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

UPDATE ON GAZA
(a) The ceasefire - On 19 June, a six-month ceasefire agreement took effect between Hamas in the Gaza Strip and the Government of Israel. The terms were not officially published, however, it was reported that the ceasefire would entail a suspension of hostilities from both sides and an Israeli commitment to gradually relax access restrictions on goods and people.

(b) Reduction in casualties - The total number of Palestinians killed by the IDF in the Gaza Strip (26) declined in June compared to May (41). All fatalities occurred before the ceasefire agreement came into effect. Among these fatalities were two children, compared to six in May. An additional 41 Palestinians, including five children, were injured in June. One Israeli civilian was killed and 15 were injured, including 14 civilians and one IDF soldier, by rockets and mortars fired by Palestinian militants from the Gaza Strip into Israel.

(c) Fuel crisis: increase in imports but needs still unmet - Fuel imports (including benzene, diesel and industrial gasoline) into the Gaza Strip increased by almost one-quarter in June compared to May (from 11.4 million litres in May to 14.1 million litres in June). However, this amount constituted approximately 54% of Gaza's monthly requirements (about 26 million litres). The amount of cooking gas entering Gaza in June (three million litres) increased by only 0.5% compared to May, and constitutes about 40% of the monthly needs.

With the increase in fuel supply, MoH (Ministry of Health) hospitals have resumed elective surgeries, except for the Gaza European Hospital, which continued to suspend half of its elective surgeries.

The CMWU (Coastal Municipalities Water Utility) received 70,000 litres of diesel in June, which constituted only 40% of its monthly fuel requirement. None of the three wastewater treatment plants across the Gaza Strip was able to function entirely, forcing the CMWU to continue dumping about 70,000 cubic metres (m3) of raw and partially treated sewage into the Mediterranean Sea each day. The MoH and WHO collected 30 seawater samples along the Gaza Strip coast, 11 of which were identified as polluted.

(d) Movement of commodities - The number of truckloads allowed into Gaza in June (2,103) increased by about 15% compared to May 2008 (1,821). Commodities transported through Karni Crossing conveyer belt were limited to grain and animal fodder. The Kerem Shalom Crossing has remained closed for commercial goods since 19 April 2008. Despite the overall increase, the number of truckloads allowed into Gaza in June represents only 17% of the truckloads which entered Gaza in one year ago in May 2007 (12,378 truckloads), before the Hamas takeover of the Gaza Strip. No exports have been allowed from the Gaza Strip since December 2007.

UPDATE ON THE WEST BANK, INCLUDING EAST JERUSALEM
(a) Water shortages - The water crisis in the West Bank continued to deepen in June due to the increase in water demand, which is normal for this time of year, and the below average rainfall during last winter (about two-thirds of the annual average). The situation in some Palestinian communities has been further compounded by the reduced supply of piped-water through the water network, in most cases by the Israeli Water Company ('Mekorot').

Marginalised Palestinian communities located mainly in the east and south of the Hebron governorate, east of the Bethlehem governorate and parts of the Jordan Valley are the most affected. They rely mainly on traditional water sources, such as springs and cisterns, which are now depleted as a result of the drought. Accordingly, thousands of households are now purchasing water transported by trucks, which is as much as four times more expensive than piped-water. The price hike of tankered water is mainly due to the higher demand and to the long detours that trucks are forced to take as a result of internal closures. Poor families, who are unable to afford the high prices of tankered water, are forced to reduce their consumption, thus creating a potential health hazard.

(b) Overview of the announced removal of 20 physical obstacles - In June, the IDF has made two announcements that 20 closures or physical obstacles to movement within the West Bank were removed.

Based on the coordinates for each obstacle provided by the IDF, OCHA conducted a field survey regarding these removals. Nine closures could not be found within 400 metres of the location provided by the IDF. Of the 11 located, six were found to be of minimal significance, four were of no significance, and one was not removed.

In June, OCHA also documented the removal of three other obstacles not mentioned in the IDF announcements, two of which were in the Hebron and Nablus governorates. It remains unclear, however, whether they were removed by the IDF or by Palestinians. In the same month, the IDF installed three new obstacles (one in Nablus and two in Ramallah).

The overall impact of the internal closures in the West Bank remains severe and unchanged, and the total number of physical obstacles stood at 602 by the end of June. No progress can be reported regarding the announcement of the removal or relocation of the three major checkpoints announced by the Quartet Representative, Tony Blair, in May (Shave Shomron, Wadi Nar (also called the container checkpoint) and Bet El checkpoints). However, according to the Israeli District Civil Liaison Office, Wadi Nar checkpoint is currently being upgraded.

(c) Forced displacement: House demolitions and "Stop Work" orders -
East Jerusalem
During June, the Jerusalem municipality demolished three inhabited houses in East Jerusalem belonging to Palestinians, as well as one balcony, due to the lack of building permits. These demolitions resulted in the displacement of 18 people, including 12 children.

Hebron
During June, the Israeli Civil Administration (ICA) issued 15 "stop work" orders against Palestinian structures located in the Hebron governorate - ten of which were in Idna town and in Um Fagarah and Al Jawaya communities south of Yatta village. Nine out of the 15 orders targeted residential structures, six of which are inhabited and three under construction. If implemented, the demolition of the six houses will result in the displacement of 42 people. The remaining six orders targeted a mosque and a generator room in Um Fagarah, three agricultural and metal junk stores in Idna, and a semi-finished water cistern with a capacity of 700 m3 financed by a Spanish NGO located at the village of At Tuwani.

Northern West Bank
In June, the ICA issued an additional 11 "stop work" orders against Palestinian owned structures in the Jenin and Qalqiliya governorates. Four of the orders targeted residential structures and another four targeted animal pens.

Whenever a "stop work" order is issued, the owner of the targeted structure is invited to apply for a building permit and be heard by the relevant committee of the ICA. However, more than 94% of applications for such building permits submitted by Palestinians between 2000 and 2007 were denied. If no application is submitted, or if the application is rejected by the ICA, a demolition order is issued. No further steps are required before a demolition order is executed.

The Right to Freedom of Movement
International Human Rights Law obliges Israel to respect the right to freedom of movement of all persons living in areas under its effective control. This obligation has been explicitly enshrined in several human rights instruments, to which Israel is a signatory, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (Article 12). Moreover, as reminded by the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the enjoyment of economic and social rights is contingent on state parties ensuring, inter alia, the freedom of movement of individuals.

Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

© Union Aid Abroad - APHEDA 2003.

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