Highlights
• The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains tense, especially since recent hostilities resumed. The number of casualties, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and damages to infrastructure continues to increase, severely limiting movement and economic activity in the region.
• From the 14 — 20 August, the Logistics Cluster facilitated the transportation of over 1,350 pallets of Food, WASH and Shelter supplies, via more than 50 trucks on behalf of the humanitarian community.
Transport Services
• Since Logistics Cluster activation on the 30 July, 95 trucks transporting 2,472 pallets of humanitarian relief items including food, WASH and shelter supplies have been facilitated by the Logistics Cluster on behalf of the humanitarian community for distribution within the Gaza Strip.
• 26 humanitarian organisations have been supported by the Logistics Cluster since activation on 30 July, including the Agricultural Development Association (PARC), CHF International and the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS).
• The Logistics Cluster has facilitated the transportation of over 1,000 pallets of private donations from local organisations for distribution within the Gaza Strip in the initial three weeks of the emergency response operation.
Common Storage
• Three dedicated warehouses secured by the Logistics Cluster for use as common storage for the humanitarian community inside the Gaza Strip. The warehouses are located in Middle Area/Gaza City (800m2 capacity), Khan Younis (600m2 Capacity) and Rafah (450m2Capacity) where an additional refrigerated warehouse (40m2 capacity) is available.
• Five staging areas for cargo consolidation and loading prior to transportation have been made available by the Logistics Cluster for use by the humanitarian community. The staging areas are located in Jerusalem, Hebron, Ramallah, Nablus and Ashqelon.
Coordination/Information Management/GIS
• Four weekly Logistics Cluster Coordination Meetings have been held, each with over 20 attendees and linked via live video to the Logistics Cluster Meeting in Gaza City.
• 22 information products including meeting minutes, daily and weekly Situation Updates, Service Request Guidance and Logistics Cluster Concept of Operations (ConOps) have been shared via the dedicated Logistics Cluster mailing list and Gaza Operations page on the Logistics Cluster website: http://logcluster.org/ops/gazal4a
• GIS mapping support includes publication of ConOps maps and other maps as requested, in order to provide support to the humanitarian community.
Other Logistics Gaps or Bottlenecks
• Safe and secure transportation and movement within the Gaza Strip remains an ongoing constraint limiting the ability of the delivery of urgently required relief supplies.
• Cargo transported via the Betunia crossing from the West Bank into Israel is currently experiencing delays due to limited capacity and security equipment, variable cargo prioritisation procedures and limited opening hours. The Logistics Cluster is liaising with relevant authorities to ease bottlenecks and investigate possible solutions.
The Tarqumia crossing from the West Bank into Israel is also experiencing delays in cargo processing due to the increasing number of trucks utilising the crossing, and complex security procedures.
• The Logistics Cluster is requesting a list of sector cargo priorities for the Gaza humanitarian response in case all cargo requests cannot be delivered in a timely manner due to the security crossing process.
• Negotiations regarding humanitarian access through the Rafah crossing from Egypt to the Gaza Strip are developing. It is hoped that possible coordination with the Egyptian Red Crescent Society to send shipments from Egypt into the Gaza Strip may begin next week.
Contacts:
Hien Adjemian, Logistics Cluster Coordinator
Lucy Styles, Logistics Cluster IM Officer
Document Type: Situation Report, Update
Document Sources: Logistics Cluster, World Food Programme (WFP)
Subject: Armed conflict, Assistance, Food, Gaza Strip, Humanitarian relief, Living conditions, Population, Water
Publication Date: 21/08/2014