Gaza Situation Report (Issue No. 71) – UNRWA update


GAZA SITUATION REPORT 71

18 – 25 November Issue 71

HIGHLIGHTS

  • UNRWA’s most critical intervention remains cash assistance for shelter repair, transitional shelter support and reconstruction of Palestine refugees’ homes. As of 25 November, 15,726 families benefited from cash support to undertake self-help shelter repairs and, if their homes are uninhabitable, from transitional shelter cash assistance (TSCA). A total of USD 15.1 million was disbursed by UNRWA to undertake the repairs, including for 1,645 families requiring construction material imported under the new Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism (GRM). A further USD 2 million was disbursed for transitional shelter cash assistance (TSCA).  As of 24 November, UNRWA’s construction and engineering personnel have assessed more than 75,800 dwellings. On 23 November alone, the team covered 1,571 homes. The team expects to complete assessments of close to 90,000 Palestine refugee dwellings by mid-December. Beneficiaries did not need to apply for assessments and assistance, as the Agency’s staff conducted assessments simultaneously throughout the Gaza Strip.
  • The pace of reconstruction requiring construction material under the Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism (GRM) remains slow. This is especially concerning with the onset of the rainy season and colder temperatures as winter approaches. In a statement issued on 21 November, the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Mr. Robert Serry, announced that under the September agreement, a further understanding was made between the parties that starting the following week some 25,000 home owners in Gaza would be enabled to access building materials for the repair of their damaged homes. The Government of National Consensus will soon make a separate public announcement on the process for access to the required building materials. The Special Coordinator also stated that the United Nations will undertake every effort to assist the Palestinian Government of National Consensus in its lead role to reconstruct Gaza, including in providing financial support to home owners needing assistance to undertake repairs. He reiterated that existing resources are not sufficient and urged donors to make available as a matter of urgency the pledges made at the Cairo International Conference. Special Coordinator Serry called on all parties concerned to lend their full support to enable the mechanism to operate at the required scale in the interests of the affected population in Gaza.
  • At the same time as progressing with its early recovery activities through the shelter self-help approach, the Agency is also managing its Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) approved construction projects. This week, the Agency received new funding from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for Phase III of a re-housing project in Rafah, in the south of Gaza. The project involves the construction of 220 dwellings for Palestine refugee families, valued at almost USD 13 million and commencing in mid-December. Construction of four schools has also been approved and is scheduled to commence next month. Since 2010, Israel has permitted construction materials to enter for approved UNRWA projects. To obtain approval, UNRWA must first submit detailed construction proposals, including design and bill of quantity, to the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT). On 16 September, COGAT advised that import of construction material to Gaza will be in accordance with the agreement of December 2013 and the newly established Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism between Palestine and Israel. The new Mechanism, once fully implemented, will allow for private sector imports, and hence for shelter self-help for large scale reconstruction which was not possible under the previous mechanism. Two UNRWA projects are still awaiting clearance to resume, and four UNRWA projects are awaiting COGAT approval. Such systems and mechanisms cost the Agency extra resources and in 2013 alone, UNRWA’s additional staffing, transit and logistical costs resulting from Israeli requirements on access and monitoring of construction material imported through the only open border crossing with Israel, Kerem Shalom, amounted to over USD 6.7 million. This is the equivalent cost of building three UNRWA schools in Gaza.
  • According to OCHA, Israel has recently permitted some exit of goods from Gaza to the West Bank for commercial purposes, but not to Israeli markets. Over the past week it is reported that trucks of vegetables,, wood and furniture exited Gaza. Since the imposition of the blockade in June 2007, Israel has virtually banned the exit of goods from Gaza to the West Bank and Israel, which are the main markets for Gazan products. According to Israeli media, in mid October Israel announced plans to allow specific produce from the Gaza Strip to the West Bank to support Gaza’s economic situation. According to OCHA’s reports from the Palestinian crossing coordination committee, while they were informed that the list of goods would include agricultural produce, fish, furniture, and clothes, a detailed operational framework for the transfer of goods was not communicated. So far in 2014, only 88 truckloads of selected agricultural produce were allowed to exit Gaza, the vast majority for export to international markets, compared to 5,007 truckloads of a wider range of goods delivered to the West Bank, and to international markets, including in Israel, in the first half of 2007 when export of goods from Gaza was permitted. Exports and transfers to the West Bank from Gaza need to be large at scale, consistent, irrevocable and economically viable to have a positive impact on Gaza.
  • In order to enhance the security and neutrality of UNRWA installations, the Safety and Security Division (SSD) has commenced implementation of an Induction Package for new Job Creation Programme (JCP) guards. During the reporting period, SSD facilitated the first training session for 96 new guards. The training included an introduction to the Safety and Security Division, training on their roles and responsibilities and information on how to respond to the various security incidents that may occur whilst they are on duty. Four Head Guards supported the training and two Operational Support Officers delivered sessions on Humanitarian Principles, including neutrality and impartiality. SSD employs 893 JCP guards on 3-month contracts and each new recruitment cycle must allow for learning about the role and the Agency. The new Induction Package is an effort to deliver this information in a structured, formal way to ensure that the new guards are effective from their first day of work. SSD is looking to expand the training in the coming months by facilitating courses in each area in order to reach as many personnel as possible.
  • This week, UNRWA’s Community Mental Health Programme (CMHP) continued its recreational activity sessions for UNRWA students, as well as individual and group counseling sessions. CMHP also continued to work with teachers on classroom based psychosocial interventions and conducted sessions for parents.
  • 18 UNRWA school buildings continue to serve as Collective Centres for 23,338 IDPs. Under the responsibility of the UNRWA Collective Centre Management Unit (CCMU), UNRWA continues to provide for the essential needs of the displaced, including food (45,953 rations over the reporting period, with WFP continuing to provide bread, milk and beans), potable water (5 litres per person per day), non-potable water, psychosocial support and participatory hygiene campaigns to promote a healthy living environment in the Collective Centres (CCs). The hygiene committees also organized recreational and support activities for more than 4,000 children.
  • As a part of the Agency’s winterization plans for Collective Centres (CCs), UNRWA with funding from ECHO has started the implementation of shower facilities. Currently, 41 units with 3 showers are in the process of being installed. The showers are equipped with hot water generated from solar energy, with panels being installed on CCs. Additionally, waste water is disposed directly to the municipal sewage system.  

GENERAL

Operational environment: The general atmosphere in Gaza remains tense. There number of demonstrations and sit-ins demanding UNRWA to accelerate its reconstruction efforts, continues to increase.  An unclear timeframe around reconstruction and the workings of the Government-led Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism are proving frustrating for affected families. The security situation in Gaza is slowly deteriorating, with police force employees remaining unpaid and de-motivated to attend daily work. This presents additional challenges for UNRWA, with no clear solution or easing of frustrations in sight.

UNRWA RESPONSE

LIFE IN AN UNRWA COLLECTIVE CENTRE: LONGING FOR “HOME”

Nayef Hamdan El-Nabahin, a 51-year-old Palestine refugee, lived with his family to the east of Wadi Gaza area in east Bureij. During the recent conflict, the area was heavily bombed, with several shells hitting Nayef's home and destroying it. “One evening in mid-July, during the heavy shelling and just after midnight, we fled our home and sought refuge at a relative's home,” said Nayef. “We stayed there until the next morning and then we made our way to a shelter in UNRWA Bureij Elementary Boys School, where we stayed for a while before moving to Bureij Elementary Co-ed School – one of UNRWA’s Collective Centres,” he continued.

Nayef used to work as a gardener, but with so little income that did not exceed NIS 500, or less than USD 130 per month, he could barely make ends meet. Nayef suffers from a kidney related illness and from visual impairment. He is selective about the type of work he does. With his 21-year-old son, Basel, suffering from epilepsy and losing three fingers in an accident, the family's financial conditions could not support a college education for Nayef's two daughters, Amani and Hanadi.

The family depends mainly on aid it receives from the Ministry of Social Affairs, in addition to a number of UNRWA services including health care and food assistance. Nayef and his family rely on the Collective Centre now for meals, hygiene products, mattresses, blankets, and clothes.
 
Nayef's wife, Ibtisam, has been able to help the family earn a modest wage. She took a three-month Job Creation Program recruitment opportunity working as an attendant at one of the UNRWA Collective Centres. This has helped generate some income for the family.

Following the end of hostilities in late August, Nayef and his family still had enough money to leave the Collective Centre, and rent an apartment. This however proved short lived as their financial situation did not improve and it became impossible to maintain rental payments; higher since the conflict. The family had no other option but to return to the same Collective Centre. Having had their home assessed, Nayef’s family is entitled to receive the UNRWA’s transitional shelter cash assistance but so far have not been able to find another rental property as the market is currently saturated with families seeking to rent.

“Our future is uncertain,” said Nayef. “With no home to return to and difficulty in finding somewhere to rent, my family and I still await a solution for our situation… we continue hoping for a better life for our children.”

SUMMARY OF MAJOR INCIDENTS

No major incidents were reported between 18-25 November.

UNRWA INSTALLATIONS

The Agency has concluded assessments of its damaged UNRWA installations, with a total of 118. Repair work is ongoing.

FUNDING NEEDS

UNRWA is seeking USD 1.6 billion for emergency relief, early recovery and reconstruction priorities in the Gaza Strip. More information can be found here. The same information is available in Arabic here.

CROSSINGS

  • Rafah crossing remains closed since 25 October.
  • Erez crossing was open for National ID holders (humanitarian cases, medical cases, merchants and UN staff) and for international staff from 18-20 November and from 23-24 November. On 21 November the crossing was open for pedestrians only. On 22 November, the crossing was closed.  
  • Kerem Shalom was open from 18-20 and on 23 and 24 November. The crossing was closed on 21 and 22 November.


2019-03-12T16:31:31-04:00

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