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UNITED NATIONS
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
occupied Palestinian territory
HUMANITARIAN OVERVIEW February 2010
oPt Humanitarian Overview: The Gaza Strip
UNITED NATIONS
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
occupied Palestinian territory
HUMANITARIAN OVERVIEW February 2010
The Humanitarian Impact of Two years of Blockade and the Israeli offensive on Gaza
UNITED NATIONS
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
occupied Palestinian territory
HUMANITARIAN OVERVIEW February 2010
Gaza Strip – Profile
• Population– 1.43 million (~1 million refugees)
• Crowded– 3,881 persons per sq km
• Young– 54% of the population under
the age of 18
• Poor– 80% poverty rate/79% aid dependant
UNITED NATIONS
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
occupied Palestinian territory
HUMANITARIAN OVERVIEW February 2010
The Gaza Strip: August 200521 Settlements ~9,000 Israeli settlers
The Gaza Strip 2009
Access andMovement Data
Erez Crossing Point
Rafah Crossing Point
Karni Crossing Point
Access to Gaza
WORKERS AND TRADERS CROSSING EREZ / DAY
KARNI: MONTHLY TRUCKLOADSPEOPLE CROSSING RAFAH / DAY
3 na
utic
al m
iles
(hor
izon
)
Effect
ive
sinc
e Ja
nuar
y 20
09
6 na
utic
al m
iles
(hor
izon
)
Effect
ive
sinc
e Apr
il 20
09
UNITED NATIONS
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
occupied Palestinian territory
HUMANITARIAN OVERVIEW February 2010
The Israeli Blockade on Gaza Since June 2007
• Air/sea movement banned• All exports banned• Import of most construction,
raw materials & spare parts banned
• Imports restricted to food and hygiene; limited cash/fuel
• Medical referrals restricted• Buffer zones
UNITED NATIONS
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
occupied Palestinian territory
HUMANITARIAN OVERVIEW February 2010
The Impact of the Blockade
• 95% of private business closed• More than 120,000 jobs lost• Hospital functioning impeded• Electricity reduced and
intermittent• Deterioration of water supply
& sanitation services
UNITED NATIONS
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
occupied Palestinian territory
HUMANITARIAN OVERVIEW February 2010
Deterioration of water and sanitation services
• 10,000 people with no access to piped water
• Repair and upgrade of treatment plants impeded
• 80 million liters of untreated and partially treated sewage discharged into the environment daily
• Increased health risks due to polluted sea water
• Sewage infiltrates into the aquifer: only 5-10% of the extracted water is safe
UNITED NATIONS
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
occupied Palestinian territory
HUMANITARIAN OVERVIEW February 2010
The devastation of livelihoods
• 5,000 farmers and 10,000 agricultural laborers affected by export ban
• Local market saturated with previously exported items
• “Buffer Zone” expanded to 300 metres from the fence
• Fishing zone reduce to 3 nautical miles
UNITED NATIONS
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
occupied Palestinian territory
HUMANITARIAN OVERVIEW February 2010
The Gaza War: 27 Dec 2008-18 Jan 2009
1.4 million civilians unprotected:• Massive military aerial and
ground bombardment • Densely populated – small area• No safe space – no bomb
shelters• No alarm/warning system• No place to flee – all borders
sealed
UNITED NATIONS
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
occupied Palestinian territory
HUMANITARIAN OVERVIEW February 2010
People affected during “Cast Lead” Offensive
• 1,383 Palestinians fatalities, including 350 children, identified by OCHA.
• 5,303 Palestinian injuries (MoH)
• Civilian fatalities disputed: 73-83% (Palestinian HR orgs); 25-39% (IDF)
UNITED NATIONS
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
occupied Palestinian territory
HUMANITARIAN OVERVIEW February 2010
Damage AssessmentJRC, 28 Jan 2009
Public infrastructure
Agricultural land
Commerce/Industry
UN property
Tunnels
All together
Residential buildings
Gaza War Damages:
UNITED NATIONS
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
occupied Palestinian territory
HUMANITARIAN OVERVIEW February 2010
Inability to reconstruct homes
• Ban on construction materials prevents reconstruction and repairs of homes
• “Cast Lead” housing impact: 3,500 destroyed 2,900 severely damaged 53,000 with minor damages
• 20,000 displaced people forced to live in alternative accommodation
• Pre- “Cast Lead” housing needs: 7,500 units
UNITED NATIONS
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
occupied Palestinian territory
HUMANITARIAN OVERVIEW February 2010
• Further Erosion of livelihoods
• Further decline in the quality of all services
• Continued denial of right to leave Gaza, move to WB
• Limited capacity to address needs resulting of “Cast Lead”
• Increasing aid dependence
The continued Blockade: A protracted human dignity crisis
UNITED NATIONS
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
occupied Palestinian territory
HUMANITARIAN OVERVIEW February 2010
The way forward
Ending the Blockade – GoI must:
• Lift restrictions on all Gaza crossings
• Allow free access to agricultural and fishing areas
• Allow access for goods and people between Gaza and the West Bank
“Protection, food, water, healthcare, and shelter are basic human needs, not bargaining chips.” (John Holmes)