This report is produced by OCHA oPt in collaboration with humanitarian partners. It covers the period from 12 July (1500 hrs) to 13 July (1500 hrs). The next report will be issued on 14 July.
Highlights
- According to preliminary data, at least 168 Palestinians have been killed since 7 July. 80 per cent of the fatalities (133) have been civilians, of whom 21 per cent (36) are children, raising concerns about respect for international humanitarian law.
- Indiscriminate rocket firing by armed groups from Gaza continues to target Israeli population centres, resulting in injuries but no fatalities to date.
- Leaflets were dropped on northern Gaza by the Israeli air force warning residents to evacuate by noon Sunday, ahead of anticipated attacks on rocket launchers in the area.
- US$ 60 million is urgently needed to cover out of stock medical supplies and medical referrals out of Gaza.
- At least 25,000 traumatized children in Gaza are in need of psychosocial support.
Situation Overview
As the Gaza emergency enters its sixth day, the civilian population of the Gaza Strip continues to make up the majority of casualties. According to preliminary data collected by the Protection Cluster, since 7 July, at least 168 Palestinians, including 133 civilians (80 per cent of total fatalities), 26 members of armed groups and nine persons whose status could not be verified have been killed by Israeli air, naval and ground strikes in Gaza. An estimated 36 children and 26 women are among the fatalities.2 According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, 1,140 Palestinians including 296 children and 233 women have also been injured. These figures, along with reports about the circumstances of some incidents, where civilians or civilian objects have been directly hit by Israeli fire (see below for incidents during the period), while there was allegedly no rocket fire or armed group activity in the close vicinity, have raised concerns about the respect for the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution in attack under international humanitarian law.
Indiscriminate rocket firing by armed groups in Gaza at Israeli localities continued with Israeli media reporting that approximately 1,500 rockets have been fired at Israel since the beginning of the emergencys. A barrage of rockets targeted the Tel Aviv metropolitan area on Saturday evening but all were intercepted by the Iron Dome system. A rocket which struck Ashkelon on Sunday afternoon reportedly wounded two Israelis. Overnight, Israeli forces also briefly entered Gaza from the sea, reportedly to attack a rocket launching site, in the first recorded ground incident occurring on land.
The targeting of Palestinian residential properties, some of which are the homes of alleged members of armed groups, continued. The number of homes destroyed or severely damaged by Israeli attacks since the start of the emergency has reached 940, bringing the estimated number of people displaced in these incidents to 5,600.
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In the most serious incident overnight, an Israeli airstrike targeted a house east of Gaza city. According to initial information, 18 persons including six children and three women, one of them pregnant, were killed, and 16 others injured including the Director General of the Gaza police, reportedly the intended target who was visiting his relatives at the time. |
Injury to utility workers is also of increasing concern. An employee of the Coastal Municipalities Water Utility (CMWU) was hit by an Israeli airstrike in Rafah and sustained serious injury today; two CMWU workers and a child were reportedly killed in similar circumstances on 11 July. Consequently, the CMWU has announced that they have suspended routine operations due to increased security risks and the alleged targeting of their technicians. Only critical facilities, particularly wells, easily accessible by technicians will be operated. As a result, over 1/3 of the population of Gaza may not have access to potable water. While damaged electricity lines resulting in major power outages have reportedly been repaired, electricity in the northern Gaza Strip is still interrupted as a result of additional lines being struck in recent days. According to the Ministry of Health, to date, eight health facilities and four ambulances have been damaged. One medical doctor has died and 19 health personnel have been injured due to airstrikes.
Leaflets were dropped on northern Gaza by the Israeli air force warning residents to evacuate by noon Sunday, ahead of anticipated attacks on rocket launchers in the area. Approximately 16,000 people are now taking shelter in UNRWA schools in the northern Gaza area.
The Erez passenger crossing remained closed today, except for the evacuation of Gazans holding dual nationality, some 530 of whom left Gaza today, along with a number of medical cases. The Kerem Shalom commercial crossing also remained closed and the Rafah border crossing with Egypt was open for the evacuation of a limited number of wounded Palestinians.
Humanitarian needs and response
Protection
Needs
- 25,300 children whose families have experienced death, injury or loss of homes are in need of psychosocial (PSS) support.
- Unexploded ordinance and explosive remnants of war present a major hazard to the population, particularly children, especially when they leave their places of shelter to search for their belongings among the rubble of their destroyed houses. So far, approximately 100 unexploded bombs have been reported throughout the Gaza Strip, 30 in Rafah area alone.
Response
- Protection Cluster members have been monitoring incidents and are issuing press releases highlighting their fmdings and calling for the protection of civilians.
- The Protection Cluster is continuously working on a unified database of verified information of civilian fatalities.
- On 12 July, five emergency PSS teams conducted 62 visits to injured children. The teams visited hospitals, as well as homes throughout the Gaza Strip. All children visited showed signs of extreme anxiety, fear, sense of insecurity, inability to sleep and despair. Since 7 July, PSS teams have reached 253 traumatized children and provided initial PSS support.
Gaps and constraints
- Difficulties in verifying information, particularly regarding casualties, due to the security situation and restricted access.
- Ongoing hostilities continue to impede the movement of child protection staff and emergency psychosocial teams.
- Emergency psychosocial teams are working at half capacity with only part time counsellors, due to funding constraints.
- Inability of the Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) police to work on the ground to remove unexploded remnants of war due to ongoing military operations is of major concern.
Shelter and Non-Food Items (NFI)
Needs
- Approximately 940 families (an estimated 5,600 individuals) have been displaced since 7 July. These 5,600 individuals whose homes were totally destroyed or sustained severe damages are in need of emergency NFI kits, including mattresses, blankets, hygiene kits, and kitchen sets.
- In the medium term, they will need cash assistance to cover rental fees and furnishing of new accommodation.
- About 1,420 families (8,500 individuals), whose homes sustained significant damage but are still inhabitable, require NFI emergency shelter repairs, such as nylon and tarpaulin. About 48,000 individuals living in slightly affected houses (broken windows and damaged doors) are in need of basic NFIs such as nylon and plastic sheets.
Response
- In addition to the 5,600 displaced due to destruction of or damage sustained to their homes, an estimated 16,000 individuals from northern Gaza and have taken shelter at twenty UNRWA schools in Gaza City and Jabalia.
- Emergency shelter kits for 940 families are available and will be provided by NFI agencies when the security situation allows.
Gaps and Constraints
- Movement restrictions caused by ongoing military operations are the main constraints for the delivery of assistance.
- Cash assistance to 940 families to cover rental fees and urgent expenses, worth US$ 4,700,000 is needed.
- Plastic sheets and tarpaulin for 8,000 families are needed for distribution.
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)
Needs
- Water supply to more than 31,000 people cut or disrupted following damage sustained by seven main water pipelines in Beit Hanoun, Gaza city, and Khan Younis.
- The Al Montar water reservoir in Gaza city was hit; (not is use), this has raised serious concerns of contamination.
- A pressure pipeline was damaged in Al Sheikh Zayed in North Gaza. Due to the interruption of power supply in Gaza water services stopped functioning. Tal el Hawa is a particular area of concern due to shortage of domestic water. Also, damage to two water carrier lines serving an estimated 14,000 people in Gaza as well as four water pipelines in Khan Younis as a result of air raid on homes in the area affecting residents' water supply were reported.
Response:
- Emergency fuel distribution to critical environmental health facilities took place yesterday. In all, 28,013 litres of diesel were distributed to ensure water pumping stations and sewage treatment plants could function during power outages.
- The Beit Hanoun Municipality has repaired three main water pipelines in Beit Hanoun that have been damaged, restoring supply to approximately 300 families.
Gaps and constraints
- Movement for service providers to operate WASH facilities and conduct emergency repairs is becoming increasingly dangerous. As a result CMWU has taken the decision to suspend routine field operations. CMWU's premises in Khan Younis have sustained damage.
Health and Nutrition
Needs
- Additional supplies are needed for all essential drugs and disposables, especially those needed for trauma treatment, including burns, as well as anesthesia drugs.
- The Ministry of Health and WHO issued an appeal to the international community for US$ 60 million to cover medical supplies and referral of patients to treatment out of Gaza.
Response
- A number of international NGOs (Welfare, UPA/USA and MAP/UK) donated medical supplies worth over US$ 800,000 to the MoH. MSF France also provided its emergency stocks to MoH hospitals, mainly Shifa hospital in Gaza and in Khan Younis; a medical team is also scheduled to come in later this week to work in Shifa hospital.
- Six truckloads of humanitarian assistance, donated by the Egyptian army to the MoH and PRCS, including 2,500 boxes of medical supplies, arrived yesterday at the Egyptian side of Rafah crossing and are scheduled to go into Gaza soon.
Gaps & Constraints
Lack of adequate protection of health facilities and personnel: two hospitals, three clinics, one treatment centre for the disabled, and four ambulances have sustained damage, while one doctor has been killed and 19 medical staff have been injured since the start of the emergency.
Education
Needs
- Since the start of the escalation, 29 government schools and 37 UNRWA schools have been affected by shelling due to their close proximity to targeted sites. Two Education Directorate offices have been affected by the shelling for the same reason.
- Due to the summer break, the education cluster is currently focused on assessing and
- mitigating damage to educational infrastructure. An assessment for the education cluster will be conducted when feasible, visiting schools used as shelters and meeting with IDPs to have their observations on the schools damaged in the areas they left.
Response
- So far, cluster members have not been able to mount any response due to the ongoing military hostilities.
Gaps & Constraints
- Lack of movement to assess impact of hostilities on school infrastructure.
- No information available about the condition of the 13 schools located in Access Restricted Area (ARA).
- Insufficient pre-positioned supplies, such as school tents and teaching/learning materials, to respond to likely scale of need.
- Inadequate funding for cluster activities.
Food Assistance
Needs
- Up to 60,000 people expected to be hosted in UNRWA shelters are in need of emergency
- food assistance. More than 215 displaced families, who are hosted by relatives, are in need of food assistance and are currently being reached with emergency vouchers
- 3,600 fishermen are in need of re-establishing their livelihoods and require assistance in the interim as they don't have access to the sea for the seventh day. Thirty two fishing boats have been burned/destroyed or partially damaged. In addition, 1,000 fishing nets were burned.
- Farmers continue to be unable to access their lands or their live stocks, thus loss of high valuable crops as well as animals are reported. This requires urgent interventions for immediate need for food and other assistance as well as planning interventions to re-establish their livelihoods.
Response
- As of 3 PM, 13 July, a total of 2,600 individuals had been reached for food assistance, including 1,290 individuals who have sought shelter with relatives who are being reached with emergency food vouchers delivered by WFP in partnership with Oxfam GB. Around 1,100 have been reached with emergency food assistance provided by ACF.
- Around 200 hospital patients have been reached so far with emergency food assistance.WFP is scaling up its food assistance to hospitals by targeting around 2,040 people in hospitals, both patients and staff; WFP is also ready to scale up its food voucher assistance to additional displaced people residing with relatives
- The Food Security Sector (FSS) is ready to provide the rising number of displaced people with emergency food assistance.
Gaps and constraints
- As movement is increasingly impeded due to ongoing military operations, FSS members continue to face problems in accessing affected areas, especially agricultural lands and livestock.
- Provision of food assistance to hospital patients and staff is restricted due to security concerns.
- Immediate emergency funds to cover food assistance to displaced people are required.
General Coordination
The UN Access Coordination Unit (ACU) have been working closely with the local authorities in Gaza and the Israeli authorities at the Erez Crossing to coordinate the evacuation of foreign nationals and the access of water and telecommunications teams to the ARA along the fence for repairs. ACU staff have been deployed at Erez and additional staff to be deployed in Gaza to support upcoming humanitarian operations.
Funding
A number of donors have already started working with clusters and partners to look into providing funding for urgent needs in the most critical sectors. The Government of Norway noted the particular needs in shelter and health and has announced an extra contribution of NOK 30 million to respond to humanitarian needs in the Gaza Strip. Norway has urged other donors to come forward.
The 2014 Strategic Response Plan (SRP) for the oPt has received US$ 165 million (42 per cent) out of a total request of US$390 million Nearly 90 per cent of 1.9 million vulnerable people targeted in the SRP are in Gaza. Less that 30 per cent of the funds requested for projects targeting Gaza specifically have been mobilized. US$ 68 2 million is requested for projects targeting Gaza and the West Bank jointly. Funding across clusters has been uneven; however, no clusters are on track with funding at the mid-year point with the exception of Coordination. Food Security interventions, which represent the bulk of humanitarian assistance in Gaza, are only 30 per cent funded.
The Emergency Response Fund (ERF) is an additional mechanism available to fund interventions in Gaza. While the ERF balance currently stands at US $4 million, US $2 million worth of proposals are already being processed to meet previous underfunded, critical SRP projects which are also covering critical sectors that support responses during the emergency. The ERF is therefore in urgent need of replenishment to ensure the fund's ability to provide rapid and flexible support to affected civilian populations.
Although operations for UNRWA continue in all areas, there is an urgent need for funding to cover the US $22 million of UNRWA's Emergency Appeal shortfall, already projected by the Agency. Currently, the most urgent funding needs include funding to continue the food assistance programme and additional resources to procure additional non-food items (US $1 million).
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Background to the crisis On 7 July 2014, the Israeli army launched a large military operation in the Gaza Strip, codenamed "Protective Edge", with the stated objective of stopping Palestinian rocket firing at southern Israel and destroying the military infrastructure of Hamas and other armed groups. This development marked the collapse of the Egyptian-brokered ceasefire understanding reached between Israel and Hamas in November 2012, which has been gradually undermined since December 2013. The latest escalation round started in early June, characterized by an intensification of Israeli airstrikes and rockets launched from Gaza at southern Israel. Tensions further increased following the abduction and killing of three Israeli youths in the southern West Bank, on 12 June, which the Israeli government attributed to Hamas. Overall, in the period leading up to the start of the current operation a total of 15 Palestinians, including one civilian, were killed, and another 58 others, mostly civilians, injured, as a result of Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip; seven Israelis, five of whom were civilians, were injured due to rocket fire. The current crisis comes against a backdrop of heightened vulnerability and instability. Unemployment increased dramatically since mid-2013, following a halt of the illegal tunnel trade, exacerbating the impact of the Israeli blockade in place since June 2007. Additionally, former de facto government employees, including the security forces, have not been paid salaries regularly since August 2013 and no salaries at all since April 2014. Delivery of basic services has been also undermined due to an ongoing energy crisis, involving power outages of 12 hours per day. |
For further information, please contact:
Katleen Maes, Head of the humanitarian Emergency Operations Center in Gaza, nnaes@un.org, +972 59 291 1047
Yehezkel Lein, Head of Analysis, Communications and Protection Unit, OCHA oPt, lein@un.org, +972 54 331 1809
For more information, please visit www.ochaopt.org
Endnotes
1Data on fatalities and destruction of property is consolidated by the Protection and Shelter clusters based on preliminary information, and is
subject to change based on further verifications.
2 Data on injuries is provided by the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza.
2 Data on fatalities and destruction of property is consolidated by the Protection and Shelter clusters based on preliminary information, and is subject to change based on further verifications.
Download Document Files: https://unispal.un.org/pdfs/OchaGazaSitRpt_130714.pdf
Document Type: Situation Report, Update
Document Sources: Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
Subject: Access and movement, Armed conflict, Casualties, Children, Extrajudicial killings, Food, Gaza Strip, Health, Human rights and international humanitarian law, Humanitarian relief, Internally displaced persons, Living conditions, Poverty, Protection, Refugees and displaced persons, Security issues, Shelter, Water, Women
Publication Date: 13/07/2014