Area C of the West Bank: Key humanitarian concerns – OCHA factsheet

 AREA C OF THE WEST BANK

KEY HUMANITARIAN CONCERNS

UPDATE AUGUST 2014

1. Most of Area C has been allocated forthe benefit of Israeli settlements, which receive preferential treatment at the expense of Palestinian communities, including with regard to access to land and resources, planning, construction, development of infrastructure, and law enforcement.

2. Palestinian movement in Area C is controlled and restricted by a complex system of physical and administrative means. These include the Barrier, checkpoints, roadblocks, and a permit system, which undermine livelihoods and access to basic services, as well as the ability of humanitarian organizations to deliver assistance.

3. The lack of an appropriate planning and zoning system in Area C means that most Palestinians cannot obtain permits for construction or rehabilitation of homes, animal shelters, or essential infrastructure. Structures, including homes, built without permits are routinely demolished and families forcibly evicted.

4. Palestinian communities in Area C are among the most vulnerable in the West Bank. In particular, demolitions and forced evictions deprive people of their homes and disrupt livelihoods, leading to entrenched poverty and increased aid dependency. The impact on children can be particularly devastating, including depression, anxiety and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder.

5. Israel, as the occupying power in the West Bank, has a legal obligation to protect the Palestinian civilian population and to administer the territory for their benefit. International law prohibits the forced transfer or displacement of civilians and the destruction of private or public property. It also prohibits transfer of the population of the occupying power into occupied territory.