OPT: Situation Report on the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip 04 Jan 2009

The following information is based on reports from the UN Country Team and humanitarian partners in the occupied Palestinian territory, as well as information received from countries involved in the humanitarian response.

1. General Overview

On 3 January (around 8 p.m. local time), Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) launched military ground operations in the Gaza Strip. Israeli forces are now deployed in several areas of the Gaza Strip with clashes taking place between Israeli forces and militants. Damage and destruction of roads, infrastructure and buildings are reported.

The population of the Gaza Strip had already been severely affected by a week of air-strikes and the 18-month long closure of the territory by imposed by Israel. The latest ground military operation further compounds this humanitarian crisis. There is now an increased threat to civilians due to combat in densely populated urban areas. Hospitals continue to be overstretched by the large number of casualties that have been accumulating since 27 December. Ambulances and medical staff face serious difficulties in accessing victims of the fighting. Electricity and telecommunications are non-functional in much of the Strip. Food distributions have been seriously hampered: UNRWA and CHF had to cancel their distribution on 4 January due to the prevailing security conditions. All crossing points remain closed.

Since the beginning of the IDF ground operation, at least 25 Palestinians (mostly civilians) have been killed. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, 491 Palestinians have been killed and about 2,400 have been injured since 27 December.

Palestinian militants continue to fire rockets and mortar shells into Israeli territory and towards IDF troops. As of 4 January, the Israeli Magen David Adom reports that 4 Israelis have been killed and 60 injured since 27 December.

2. Coordination and Humanitarian Response

Gaza Crossings

On 3 and 4 January, all Gaza crossings with Israel were closed. No fuel, aid supplies or other commodities have been allowed through these crossings. The Rafah crossing was closed on 4 January, i.e. no transfer of medical supplies or evacuation of patients were possible. Five truckloads of medical supplies and seven patients crossed Rafah on 3 January. WHO reports that 105 patients have been transported through Rafah for treatment outside of Gaza since the beginning of Israel's military operation on 27 December.

2.1. Food

Due to on-going military operations, UNRWA food distribution was cancelled on 4 January, except in southern Gaza. UNRWA is facing significant difficulties obtaining food for its emergency distributions since the majority of bakeries are either closed or only partially operating and security conditions limit movements. WFP was able to distribute bread to 13 hospitals on 4 January. CHF - one of WFP's main implementing partners - carried out food distributions in North Gaza on 3 January. However, distribution planed in Khan Yunis on 4 January was cancelled due to security conditions and movement restrictions.

Due to the lack of cooking gas in Gaza, 23 bakeries are no longer operating. Only 10 bakeries remain operational; another 14 are partially operating, depending on the availability of electricity

2.2. Health

All of Gaza City hospitals have been running on back-up generators for the past 48 hours. Hospitals warn that generators are close to collapse.

The prevailing security conditions are preventing medical staff from reaching hospitals. For similar reasons, ambulances are experiencing difficulties in reaching victims of on-going fighting. On 4 January, UNRWA was forced to close 4 out of its 18 health centers, due to on-going hostilities in these areas. However, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society continues to assist the population. Between Friday and Saturday midday, its ambulances transported 15 bodies and 78 wounded people to hospitals. On 4 January, for the second consecutive day, Israeli authorities have refused access to Gaza to an ICRC emergency medical team.

An Emergency Operational Room was set up by the Palestinian Authority's Ministry of Health, in collaboration with WHO. The operation room will provide assessments of requirements (pharmaceuticals, consumables, equipments and spare parts), follow up on the response of international community, and address referrals of injured and other patients.

2.3. Water and Sanitation

According to the Coastal Municipalities Water Utilities (CMWU), about 70% of the Gaza Strip population has no access to water. Gaza City and northern Gaza are particularly affected due to electricity cuts and a lack of fuel for back-up generators. CMWU expresses concern that continued shelling near the Beit Lahiya waste water treatment plant could damage the sewage lagoon and result in waste water flooding into Beit Lahiya. The Beit Lahiya sewage lagoon contains 3 million cubic metres of waste water.

The fuel situation for water and sanitation remains critical. On 4 January, UNRWA donated 75,000 liters of fuel to CMWU. However, only 35,000 liters could be distributed so far, because security conditions are hampering the movement of fuel tanks.

2.4. Shelter and non-food items

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society estimates that thousands of homes have been damaged since the beginning of military operations, exposing their residents to cold weather.

Prior to the IDF ground operation, the Save the Children Alliance and Al Mezan Centre for Human Rights estimated that more than 13,000 people (2,000 families) were displaced during the Israeli air-strikes. The majority of displaced families have found shelter with relatives and neighbours. An estimated 1,200 people have been accommodated in five UNRWA emergency shelters. The number of people displaced is expected to rise following the latest ground military operations.

2.5. Infrastructure, fuel and electricity

The Gaza Power Plant shut down on 30 December. There is an almost total blackout in the governorates of Gaza, North Gaza, Middle Area, and Khan Yunis. Most of the telephone network (both land lines and cell phones) is also not functioning, since it now depends on back-up generators with dwindling fuel stocks.

3.0 International Assistance and Priority needs

3.1. Funding

A number of donors have pledged contributions to the local Humanitarian Emergency Response Fund (HRF). Funds are already being disbursed for urgent projects in the Gaza Strip, including USD 250,000 to WHO for the procurement of surgical kits; USD 200,000 to Islamic Relief to provide food and blankets to eight hospitals; and USD 130,000 to a PARC project to provide Gazans with torches, batteries and dry food.

The Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Mr John Holmes, is expected to meet the donor community on 6 January, in New York. He will present the funding priorities identified by the Humanitarian Country Team to respond to the consequences of this crisis.

As of 2 January, donors have already committed or pledged an estimated USD 26 million for the Gaza Emergency. (http://ocha.unog.ch/fts/pageloader.aspx?page=emerg-emergencyDetails&appealID=834) This information was compiled by OCHA, based on the information provided by donors and appealing organisations. In addition, numerous in-kind donations have been reported.

3.2. Priority needs

Fuel: Industrial fuel is urgently needed for the Gaza Power Plant. Ten transformers, which were severely damaged, must be replaced as a matter of urgency in order to restore electricity supply for 250,000 people in central and northern Gaza. All water and sanitation and other utilities, which provide basic services to the population, as well as hospitals and the general population are affected by the outages. Some areas of the Gaza Strip have now experienced power outages more than 48 hours. Nahal Oz crossing is the only crossing which can facilitate the transfer of sufficient amounts of fuel to restart and maintain operations of the power plant, and restock other types of fuel needed in the Strip. This crossing has been closed since 26 December.

Wheat grain: it is essential to provide flour for local bakeries and humanitarian food distribution to the population of Gaza. Karni Crossing conveyor belt is the only mechanism that can facilitate the import of the amount of grain required in the Strip at this time. This crossing remains closed.

Cash: Cash has still not entered the Gaza Strip and is urgently needed, including for the UNRWA cash distribution program to some 94,000 dependent beneficiaries, as well as for the UNRWA "cash for work" program.

Internal movement into and within the Gaza Strip: Conditions must be created in order to allow patients and ambulances to reach hospitals, relief organisations to access warehouses and conduct distributions. Currently movement within the Strip is severely challenged. Besides, access of NGOs to Gaza remains severely restricted.

4.0 Contacts

OCHA Geneva - Humanitarian Affairs Officer
Mr Peter Neussl
Tel: +41 (0) 22 917 15 11
Email: neussl@un.org

OCHA New York - Desk Officer
Mr. Aurelien Buffler
Tel: +1 347 515 4801
Email: buffler@un.org

OCHA Geneva - Press Contact
Ms Elizabeth Byrs
Tel: +41 (0) 22 917 26 53
Email: byrs@un.org

OCHA New York - Press Contact
Ms Stephanie Bunker
Tel: +1 917 367 2549
Email: bunker@un.org

OCHA Office in the occupied Palestinian territory
Mr. Philippe Lazzarini
Tel: +972-2-582-996/ 5853
Email: Lazzarini@un.org

Ms. Allegra Pacheco
Tel: + 972-2-582-996/ 5853
Email: Pacheco6@un.org