Occupied Palestinian Territories - Humanitarian Update, March 2010

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

Continuing power blackouts have increased Gaza’s reliance on electricity generators.

MARCH OVERVIEW

The sudden escalation of violence that swept across the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) in March highlights the overall fragility of the situation, and the vulnerability of the civilian population. Israeli-Palestinian violence resulted in the largest number of Palestinian casualties (deaths and injuries combined) in a given month since the end of the "Cast Lead" offensive.

In the West Bank, rioting and other incidents resulted in four Palestinians killed and 349 injured, as well as 44 injuries among Israeli forces. Most injuries occurred in clashes in East Jerusalem between Palestinian demonstrators and the Israeli police. Although the immediate trigger was the opening of a synagogue in the Old City and subsequent calls by some Palestinian political leaders "to protect" Al Aqsa mosque, other factors had contributed to heightened tensions. These include a series of decisions, reports and statements concerning the expansion of Israeli settlements in East Jerusalem, one of which would entail extensive demolitions of Palestinian homes. The establishment and expansion of Israeli settlements in the oPt is illegal under international law and has also had a significant humanitarian impact on the Palestinian population, including a reduction in the space available to address Palestinian needs.

The Gaza Strip also saw a significant increase in casualties. The majority of the Palestinian casualties (four deaths and 39 injuries), as well as damages to civilian homes and agricultural property, occurred as a result of a series of airstrikes launched by the Israeli Air Force. The airstrikes followed the killing of a foreign national employed in southern Israel by a rocket launched by a Palestinian faction. Although this was the first fatality in Israel from rocket fire since the end of the "Cast Lead" offensive, indiscriminate rocket fire from Gaza has been ongoing for years, endangering the lives of the Israeli civilians living along the border and exposing Palestinian civilians to the risk of Israeli retaliations. Also this month, three Israeli soldiers were killed in clashes with Palestinian militants; three others were injured.

As the Israeli blockade of Gaza continues, poor living conditions were exacerbated this month by deteriorating electricity supply. This was due to the continuing decline in the import of fuel to the Gaza power plant following a funding crisis that began in December 2009. However, in March, the Israeli authorities implemented some relaxations in the blockade, including the approval of the entry of materials needed for a UN sewage project, spare parts for the repair and maintenance of the electricity network, and the continuation of the import of glass needed to repair shattered windows. Also this month, the Israeli authorities informed the UN Secretary General that the materials needed for the finalization of an UNRWA housing project (150 housing units), will soon be approved for entry. While welcome, these steps are still far from addressing existing reconstruction needs. The completion of the UNRWA housing project, for example, would only address less than one percent of the estimated housing needs in Gaza. These measures will not suffice either to contain the collapse of the private sector, or avoid continued erosion of livelihoods.

As emphasized by the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, John Holmes, in his visit to the Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory this month, "people need to be given the opportunity to live normal and dignified lives. For this to happen, marginal improvements here and there are not enough. More radical changes of policy are required. In Gaza, the crossings must be fully reopened; in the West Bank, illegal demolitions and evictions should stop and natural development should be allowed in East Jerusalem and Area C."

ISSUES IN FOCUS

Ongoing concern over generator-related accidents
The ongoing electricity crisis has led to an increasing reliance by the population on low quality generators, fueled by low quality fuel, both of which are largely imported through the tunnels under Gaza's border with Egypt. This increase has reportedly resulted in an increase in accidents and related casualties from generator fires and carbon monoxide poisoning during the last two years than in previous years. According to the Director of the Emergency Services in Gaza, Muawiya Hassanayn, a total of 17 people have died in the first three months on 2010 in these circumstances; nearly the same rate, on a monthly basis, as the fatality toll in 2009, when 62 died in similar accidents, but well above the total of 13 fatalities in 2008. The Shifa Hospital in Gaza City has also reported that since the beginning of 2010, 36 people were treated due to injuries caused in generator-related accidents.

In an accident that occurred last month, three children belonging to the Abu Jamaei family in the locality of Bani Suhila (Tanseem, 15 years-old, Tarneem, 10 years-old, and Baseem 10 years-old) died when caught in fire resulting from the spilling of a generator fuel in the kitchen; three other children were injured. Dr. Naseem Abu Jamaei, 48, the father of the six children stated to OCHA: "We experience electricity cuts for almost 12 hours a day ... we rely on the electrical generator and must store some fuel at our house to keep the generator functioning". He also stated that the frequent fluctuations in the prices of the fuel imported through the tunnels encourage people to store large amounts in their houses.

Also in February, a 17-year-old boy died when a fire ignited while he was pouring fuel into a generator at night using a light torch. His father, a 54-year-old university professor, said to OCHA: "I was always cautious and instructing my children to avoid pouring any fuel into the generator at night". He added that "the lack of electricity means ordinary Gazans cannot keep running their daily lives. We experience almost 6-8 hours of a power cuts per day, my children can't study, my wife can do the laundry only when the power comes back, she cannot keep perishable food because our fridge does not work, and I have problems in preparing my lectures without electricity".

Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

© Union Aid Abroad - APHEDA 2003.

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