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)