Occupied Palestinian Territories - Humanitarian Update, September 2010

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

SEPTEMBER OVERVIEW

Reports released in September indicated that high rates of economic growth were recorded in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip over the course of the first half of 2010, compared with the parallel period in 2009. While these reports are encouraging, other indicators suggest that economic growth has yet to translate into tangible improvements in the lives of many people in the occupied Palestinian territory. In the Gaza Strip, despite some reactivation of the private sector, between the first and the second quarter of 2010 (the period addressed by the reports), the unemployment rate increased from 39.7 to 44.3 percent of the workforce (relaxed definition), one of the highest rates in the world. Nearly 1.1 million Palestinians continue to rely on food assistance from the UN in order to meet their basic caloric needs. Ongoing restrictions on the import of construction materials and on the export of goods continue to impede the recovery of livelihoods and prevent efforts to address the huge level of housing needs generated since the imposition of the blockade; it is estimated that over 68,000 new housing units are needed to meet natural population growth alone, more than ten times the housing needs created by destruction incurred during the 'Cast Lead' offensive.

Little progress has been achieved in the implementation of building projects carried out by international agencies. Since the announcement of the easing of the blockade in June 2010, the Israeli authorities have approved 17 UNRWA projects (schools and clinics), which constitute only three percent of the agency's construction plan for Gaza; however, approval for three of the projects was recently revoked and none of the emaining has been, so far, able to commence due to delays in the issuance of approvals for the entry of the required materials. Additionally, no progress can be reported regarding access of humanitarian staff to and from Gaza; during September, less than half of the pplications submitted on behalf of UN local staff to enter or leave Gaza were approved. In the Gaza Strip, lack of adequate space forced UNRWA to start the new school year by referring approximately 40,000 eligible children to schools run by Ministry of Education; UNRWA's schools already function on double and triple shifts. In Area C of the West Bank, hundreds of children returned to schools affected by unsafe or unhygienic conditions, or by the threat of demolition, and settler intimidation. A response plan addressing the situation in 26 of these schools, submitted by the humanitarian community to the Israeli authorities in January 2010, is yet to be answered. Some of the same Area C ommunities, as well as tens of thousands of Palestinians in East Jerusalem, continue to live under the constant threat of displacement. The Israeli authorities have recently offered two Area C communities (400 people) located in the closed area behind the Barrier, to relocate to the so-called 'Palestinian side' of the Barrier, a move that came in the midst of a continuous deterioration in their access to services due to the Barrier and an increase in the issuance of demolition orders. After a respite that lasted more than a month, demolitions resumed in September, targeting eight livestock related structures in East Jerusalem and in the Jordan Valley, in areas that have been declared by the Israeli authorities as 'nature reserves.'

Increase in civilian casualties
September also registered a worrying increase in civilian casualties. In East Jerusalem, violent clashes between Palestinian residents and Israeli forces resulted in the death of two Palestinians, including a 15-month-old baby, and the injury of nearly 100 others. This wave of violence was triggered by confrontations in the neighborhood of Silwan between private armed guards, hired by the Israeli Ministry of Housing to protect Israeli settlers, and local residents (unarmed). Tensions in Silwan have increased in recent months, articularly after the publication of a master plan for the neighborhood, which entails the displacement of hundreds of Palestinian residents living in houses without building permits.

In the Gaza Strip, the Israeli army killed seven civilians this month, the highest figure since the beginning of 2010, and injured another 14, most of them while herding their flocks or collecting rubble in the restricted area along the perimeter fence. This type of incident has reduced, and in some areas totally eliminated, Palestinian access to 17 percent of the Gaza Strip, including some 35 percent of agricultural land, significantly undermining the livelihoods of tens of thousands. Positive macro economic indicators, such as those recently reported, should not conceal the fact that for large segments of the Palestinian population, ongoing access restrictions and violence pervade all aspects of daily life, from their own safety to their ability to preserve their homes and livelihoods, as well as to secure enough food for their family and to ensure that their children are provided with minimal levels of education. Alleviating this situation of extreme vulnerability demands compliance with international humanitarian and human rights law, including, at minimum, measures to safeguard civilians' lives, a full lifting of the Gaza blockade, the removal of restrictions to land use within Gaza, East Jerusalem and Area C of the West Bank, and a freeze on house demolitions and settlement expansion.

ISSUES IN FOCUS

Academic year begins amidst severe shortage of classrooms

As a new school year began, overcrowding remains one of the major challenges for the education sector in Gaza: 79 percent of government schools and over 90 percent of UNRWA schools are running double shifts and the average classroom density stands at 38 students. Shortage of construction materials due to the ongoing blockade imposed by Israel since June 2007 has significantly exacerbated this problem. While UNRWA has recently rented the facilities of ten governmental schools to operate in additional shifts, an estimated 40,000 children eligible to enroll in UNRWA schools could not be enrolled due to a shortage of classrooms. These children were therefore referred to Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoEHE) schools, administered by the Gaza authorities, meaning that they are now under an additional burden.

Even though the MoEHE hired new teachers to meet the increasing number of students, a shortage of qualified teachers in Arabic, mathematics, and English is reported. The MoEHE estimates that it needs 130 new schools to address the current and expected number of students in the coming few years, while UNRWA assessed that it needs at least 100 new schools in the coming years. While in July 2010 the Israeli authorities approved in principle the construction of 8 new schools by UNRWA, detailed approval for the import of the required materials was given only at the end of this month, and the actual entry of materials and construction is expected to start only in October. If construction proceeds smoothly the schools should be ready for the next academic year.

Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

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