In Coordination With: Palestinian Water
Authority (PWA)
Introduction
The first section of this report presents a summary of urgent needs in some of the Palestinian communities, including the Newsflash concerning assessment of damages in Beit Hanun / Gaza Strip, which was distributed on August 8th 2004. This information was collected during preparation of this report and therefore, included in it rather than sent separately.
The second section includes summary of results of the information and update for communities surveyed during the previous period. The section includes four major tables with brief comments on the data presented in these tables.
Section one: Urgent needs in Palestinian communities
1. Preliminary assessment of damages in Beit Hanun /Gaza Strip (Sunday, 8-8-2004).
Incursion of Beit Hanun (population of about 25,000 capita) started on July 28th 2004 and ended on August 5th 2004. During the last two days, incursions included also Beit Lahiya ( Tal Al Za'tar) and Jabalya areas.
During the Incursion of Beit Hanun, all entrances to the area were completely closed and a strict curfew was imposed almost on all of the area, specially the southern and western parts of Beit Hanun. During this period, there was severe shortage in the water and sanitation services.
Areas which are severely affected during the incursion included:
1. Western area including Al Sekka street, Al Sultan Abdul Hameed area, and the western entrance of Beit Hanun near Salah Al Deen street.
2. Eastern area including Al Fartah, Al Nazazah, Al Masryeen street, Al Amal neighborhood, and Sharrab area.
3. Southern area which is the southern entrance of Beit Hanun in addition to the industrial area.
Damages included the followings:
1. Damages to more than 120 roof tanks (source Municipality)
2. Destruction of more than 17 agricultural wells in the area,
3. Destruction of main lines transporting water to the community
4. Destruction and land leveling of the agricultural land in the area.
5. Destruction of a small desalination unit supporting people living in the area
6. Destroyed water supply: The municipality had to make emergency filling points
7. Damaged agricultural well and pool, the wall around the pool was lightly affected but the well was destroyed and almost land leveled.
8. Destruction also included the main water and wastewater lines (4 inches).
9. Destruction of secondary and agricultural roads in the Eastern part of Beit Hanun
10. Destruction of a main wastewater line causing a large flow of wastewater in Tal Al Za'tar area, Shakh Zayed city / Beit Lahiya. Three big holes were dig in the middle of the street leading to Shakh Zayed city during the last days of the incursion.
11. Five Main lines from municipal domestic wells were damaged causing a real crisis in water distribution for the area. The municipality was forced to distribute water directly from the wells.
12. An 8 inches main wastewater line an Al Asaliya area was damaged causing large volumes of wastewater to flow. Source: engineer Hamdy Muteer from Jabaliya municipality.
2. Highlights of the WaSH situation in the northern part of the West Bank
1. Deir Sharaf: Israeli bulldozers and tanks have closed the roads leading to the community with earth mounds and debris during the first week of August 2004. This caused the break down of the water pipes supplying water to the community, and has caused a leak of over 15 cubic meter of water. Maintaining the networks has been delayed since security coordination is needed before starting the work.
2. Majdal Bani Fadil: located in the southeast of Nablus city with a population of about 2250 capita and no water network. The main source of water for the water tankers is a filling point in the Magdolim settlement, close to Qusra community (about 5 Kms away from Majdal Bani Fadel). Cisterns are condidered also a main source of water. When the main road to the community is closed, drivers are forced to take a 30KM detour. This has happened until the first week of August. This causes an increase the price of transported water from 8 NIS to about 14 NIS per cubic meter.
3. Furush Beit Dajan: located in the northern part of Jericho Governorate (Central Ghor ) with a population of 1100 capita. A community without a water network relying on tankers using a Mekorot Company filling point. The water bill for the filling point for the community is registered in the name of the Furush Beit Dajan's local council (which is expected to make getting a license for the water network easier). Cost of tankers water is 20 NIS per cubic meter. The local council has contacted PWA with regards to supplying water network in the community, but no action is given until now.
4. 'Azzun, Jayyus, 'Izbat at Tabib, and Sir: total population for these communities is about 14,000 capita. Water is supplied to the community from a groundwater well in 'Azzun. Restrictions in the quantities supplied limit the network to two hours every three days. The community members buy the additional water at an average price of 15 NIS per cubic meter which is considered high relative to the price of water through network.
5. Jalqamus, Umm at Tut, Al Mughayyir, and 'Aqqaba: These communities have water networks. However, the limited quantity supplied to the community in addition to the state of the old pump / main water line carrying water from PWA well in Qabatya which mean losses, made coverage to be limited to 20% of the population only.
For more information, please call:
Eng. Basema Bashir/ PHG
Tel. 02/6565887 or 02/6565890
E-mail: bashir@phg.org
Website: www.phg.org/campaign
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