Occupied Palestinian Territories - Humanitarian Update, January 2009

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

JANUARY OVERVIEW

The scope of civilian suffering during the Israeli military operation in Gaza (27 December-18 January) was immeasurable Upon his return from a visit into Gaza the UN Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs, John Holmes, stated:

"The destruction I saw was devastating - both in human and material terms. The magnitude of loss of life and injury to the civilian population is bound to have a lasting impact on the mental and physical wellbeing of the Palestinians in Gaza. All aspects of life and livelihood have been affected."

The three weeks of almost uninterrupted Israeli aerial bombardments, artillery shelling and ground operations resulted in the killing of 1,440 people and the injury of another 5,380, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health (MoH) in Gaza. While the exact number of civilians among the dead and injured remains unknown, nearly half of the casualties were women and children. With Gaza's borders effectively sealed and no proper shelters or warning system within the Gaza Strip, the civilian population had no safe haven during the operation. Military operations also seriously impeded the ability of rescue teams to evacuate the wounded.

The humanitarian situation deteriorated rapidly from the onset of the hostilities: hundreds of thousands people in Gaza were displaced at some point during the conflict, due to damage or destruction of their homes or out of fear; no one in Gaza had daily running water during the three weeks of the operation; at the height of the fighting, most Gazans were without electricity due to damage to the network and lack of fuel to operate Gaza's power plant; despite the large influx of medical supplies into Gaza, the health system struggled to cope with the massive number of severe and complex injuries; livelihoods, already devastated by 18 months of blockade, were further eroded by the deaths and injury of breadwinners, the destruction of homes and workplaces and damage to the agriculture and fishing industries.

The lives of approximately one million Israelis living within a range of 40 km from the border of Gaza were disrupted and put under threat as a result of the continuous firing of rockets and mortars by Palestinian armed groups. As a result, three Israeli civilians were killed and 182 were injured, according to the Israeli Magen David Adom (the national society of the International Red Cross Movement in Israel).

The continuing restrictions on the access of goods and personnel to the Gaza Strip, however, pose a major constraint to the implementation of the response plan. While the number of truckloads allowed into Gaza during January exceeded the number of the two preceding months, they remained far below needs. An expansion in the type and quantity of goods allowed entry, alongside the opening of all crossings into Gaza, the Karni crossing in particular is essential for any significant improvement in the humanitarian situation to occur. Spare parts, fuel, cement and other construction materials are particularly needed. In addition, it is critical that full and unhindered access of humanitarian staff to Gaza, including NGO staff, be granted.

Also of importance is that allegations of the violation of international humanitarian law affecting the protection of civilians during the course of the fighting be properly addressed. Following his visit to Gaza the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon emphasized that:

"We need to restore a basic respect for civilians. Where civilians have been killed, there has to be a thorough investigation, full explanations and, where it is required, accountability."

In the West Bank, multiple demonstrations were carried out against Israel's military operation, resulting in the killing of three Palestinians and the injury of another 130. Also, for the first time since October 2003, the Israeli authorities declared additional areas located between the Barrier and the Green Line in Hebron and parts of the Salfit, Ramallah, Jerusalem and northern Bethlehem governorates a closed military area ('seam zone'), giving rise to serious concerns for the affected population. Of concern also is the likeliness that 2009 will become the second consecutive year of serious drought in the region, with severe humanitarian impact on some vulnerable populations.

ISSUES IN FOCUS

Diminished livelihoods in Gaza further eroded by Israeli military operation

The 22 days of fighting occurred against the backdrop of livelihoods already significantly eroded by 18 months of blockade: the closure had triggered unprecedented rates of poverty (80%) and unemployment (46%); the private sector had been effectively paralyzed by the prohibition on exports and most industrial imports; and the livelihoods of 14,000 farmers, herders and fishermen were at risk of collapse following the drastic reduction of agricultural and fishing activities.

Israeli military operations caused the further erosion of Palestinian livelihoods. Those already vulnerable before the recent war are likely to have fallen deeper into poverty. Thousands of families, whose breadwinners were either killed or sustained permanent injuries, lost their main source of income. Families dependent on agriculture and fishing were affected by the widespread destruction of agricultural land, livestock farms, including poultry, sheep, goats and rabbits, and fishing boats and equipment. Furthermore, thousands of families, whose homes were damaged or destroyed by bombardment, now endure additional economic burden. Compounding these problems are that the extensive destruction of public infrastructure constrains the delivery of public services and the functioning of productive enterprises and commerce, leading to the slower absorption of labour in both private and public sectors.

During the operation, the availability and quality of fresh food in the market dropped significantly, due to the suspension of production during the fighting and the spoiling of existing produce. Wheat flour, the major staple, was in short supply. The limited supply of cooking gas and water hampered food preparation for families and institutions, and for the commercial food preparation sector such as bakeries. Following the cease-fire, access to available food by most of the population remains severely constrained by inflation in the price of some items and the lack of cash notes. Preliminary estimates indicate that the military operation resulted in a 20% increase in food insecurity, raising the overall level of food insecurity to 75% of the population. Combined, these factors make it likely that aid dependency will increase further in the aftermath of the crisis; prior to 27 December 2008, 80% of the population was already receiving aid of some kind (although not all on a regular basis).

Access of international NGOs to Gaza severely restricted

Since the cessation of hostilities the Israeli authorities have allowed only a handful of international aid workers into Gaza. Of the 178 requests to enter Gaza submitted by International NGOs (INGOs) staff members and recorded by OCHA during January, only 18 NGO staff were approved as of the end of the month, while no answer was received for the rest. All approved requests related to INGO in the field of health. Six additional INGO staff also working in the medical field and a number of staff members working in the field of UXO (unexploded ordnance) clearance entered Gaza from Egypt during January. The Israeli authorities have stated that the processing delays were due to the priority given to medical NGOs and the overwhelming demand for access to conduct urgent surveys into Gaza.

Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

© Union Aid Abroad - APHEDA 2003.

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