OFFICE FOR THE COORDINATION OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS
P.O. Box 38712 East Jerusalem
Phone: (972) 2 – 5829962 / 5825853, Fax: (972) 2 – 5825841
ochaopt@un.org, www.ochaopt.org
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OCHA Weekly Briefing Notes
Update for oPt (1 – 7 September 2004)
INSIDE: Casualties . Incidents involving ambulances . Curfew . House demolition/Demolition
ordersPeople displaced . Land levelling
equisitions . Closure
estrictions on movement .Access to
schools. Labour movement to Israel . Other . Appendix
1. Casualties
Palestinians: 21 deaths, 103 injured
Israelis: 0 deaths, 2 injured
Sources: OCHA FCU, PRCS, UNRWA, IDF website, Israeli MoFA.
2. Incidents involving ambulances and medical teams
West Bank
Gaza:
Male Palestinians aged 16 to 35, including patients and those with metal implants, are still not permitted to travel out of the Gaza Strip through Rafah Terminal. The Ministry of Health (MoH) reported that a large number of patients with medical referral documents for necessary treatment abroad have been denied access.
1 September: The dialysis unit, general library and the main entrance of the general surgery department of the MoH Nasser and Mubarak hospitals, in Khan Younis, were damaged during an IDF operation in the nearby Namsawi housing project (Austrian village) area. Medical work in these two hospitals was severely interrupted for at least five hours during the IDF operation.
3 September: A PRCS ambulance was delayed for one hour and ten minutes at Al Tuffah checkpoint when it was transporting a patient from Al Mawassi area to Nasser hospital in Khan Younis.
5 September: Damage to the emergency department of Naser MoH Hospital was reported as a result of nearby IDF shooting.
Denial of access: None reported
Delay (30 minutes – three hours): 5
Shooting/Damage to Ambulance: None reported
Sources: OCHA FCU, PRCS
3. Curfews
Curfew was reported in the following locations:
4. House demolitions/Demolition Orders/People Displaced
West Bank:
• 1 September: In Hebron, 10 people lost their homes after the IDF destroyed the internal walls of the house belonging to the family of one of the Palestinians involved in the Be’er Sheva bombings. The family received a tent and an emergency kit from the ICRC.
• 2 September: Nine persons lost their home in the city of Hebron after the IDF damaged the internal walls of their house. The family is related to one of the Palestinians involved in the bombings in Be’er Sheva.
• 6 September: Seven people lost accommodation when the IDF demolished a two-storey building in Ad Duheisha camp, Bethlehem district. The building belongs to the father of three detainees arrested a year ago.
Gaza:
• Six families, 38 persons, were made homeless by demolitions undertaken by the IDF during the reporting period.
5. Land levelling/Requisition1
West Bank:
• 1 September: Israeli settlers burned more than 250 olive trees belonging to Palestinians from Dura, near the outpost next to Negohot settlement, in Hebron district.
• 5 September: The IDF levelled an area of land southwest of Beit 'Awwa village, Hebron district, as a site to keep bulldozers and equipments which will work on the Barrier.
• 7 September: IDF soldiers and Israeli Police officers uprooted olive trees belonging to Palestinians in the village of At Tuwani, Hebron district. The land belongs to the Palestinian village.
Gaza:
• 1 September: The IDF levelled 300 dunums (30 hectares) planted with olive trees in the Palestinian area of Johr Ed-Dik southeast of the Karni-Netzarim settlers’ road. They also destroyed four water wells and partially demolished three houses in the area.
• 1 September: Ten dunums (one hectare) of olive trees were levelled in Zurub area in Rafah.
• 2 September: Ten dunums (one hectare) of olive trees were levelled in the Palestinian area north of Karni crossing.
• 2 September: Three dunums of citrus trees were levelled in the Palestinian area west of Al Mughraga, south of Netzarim settlement.
• 5 September: Two dunums (point two hectares) of olive trees were levelled and a water well was destroyed in the Palestinian area west of Al Mughraga, south of Netzarim settlement.
• 5 September: Twelve dunums (One-point-two hectares) of olive and citrus trees were levelled in Deir Al Balah northwest of Kfar Darom settlement.
Sources: OCHA FCU
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1 4 dunums = 1 acre
6. Closure2/Restrictions on movement
Hebron & Bethlehem
• Israeli security forces implemented a strict closure in Hebron after the double suicide bombings in Be’er Sheva, on 31 August. All gates onto bypass Roads 60, 317 and 35 have been closed and heavy restrictions are being applied to all movement in and out of the governorate. Many flying checkpoints have been set up inside the city of Hebron, in villages and towns, and on bypass Roads 60, 317 and 35. New checkpoints have been erected on roads crossing the Green Line. The IDF closed Tarqumiya checkpoint to Palestinian workers and merchants but allowed the transit of families of prisoners, except for the ones of Hebron district prisoners.
• 1 September (Ongoing situation): The Israeli Border Guard set up three new checkpoints in the Governorate of Hebron: on the Green Line south of Tene settlement, Road 60; at the junction to Beit Yatir settlement and at the junction with the road leading to Shani settlement on Road 317.
• 1 September (Ongoing situation): The IDF closed one gate and set up a flying checkpoint on the lane out of Hebron on Halhul Bridge, Hebron district, restricting the movement of Palestinian vehicles and civilians out of the city of Hebron.
• 1 September (Ongoing situation): The IDF closed the gate at An Nabi Younes, the main entrance into Halhul, Hebron district
• 2 September (Ongoing situation): The IDF closed the gate at the entrance of Beit Ummar town, Hebron district.
• 2 to 3 September: The IDF occupied a Palestinian house next to the main internal road from Hebron to Dura, using it as an observation post and setting up a flying checkpoint. An earth mound was erected the following day, preventing all movement.
• 2 September: The IDF closed the entrance of Al Fawwar camp with concrete blocks and closed the gate at the entrance to Dura, Hebron district.
Tulkarm/Qalqiliya/Salfit governorates:
• Restrictions on movement were apparent in the aftermath of the Be’er Sheva bombings. An increase in flying checkpoints was observed on main roads connecting villages with main towns in all three Governorates. People and vehicles in and out of Tulkarm have been carefully searched, although no new restrictions were apparent in the Governorate of Qalqiliya, where soldiers were reported to have manned the checkpoint at the main entrance for at least one to two hours a day. In Salfit Governorate, movement between villages is restricted by the presence of road blocks, earth mounds and the prohibition to travel on the main roads.
• No major incidents have been reported with respect to the Barrier gates except for the usual delays in the opening hours.
Nablus/Jenin/Tubas governorates:
• 4 September: At 3pm, Hamra checkpoint (Nablus) was closed. Young men were interrogated at the check point before they were let through after waiting several hours.
• 4 September: A flying checkpoint was erected on the road leading to Jenin near Jaba' village (Jenin).
• 5 September: Major delays happened at Hamra checkpoint throughout the day. Vegetable trucks were searched comprehensively before they were let through.
• 6 September: Major delays occurred at Huwwara checkpoint in the afternoon. The checkpoint was closed for two hours before it was reopened later the same day.
Ramallah/al-Bireh governorate:
• The main western entrance to Al Mughayyir village remains closed with a roadblock, and earth mounds are also blocking the track leading to the village’s solid-waste dump site, according to the Palestinian DCL.
• 4 September: There were long delays at Qalandiya checkpoint and several flying checkpoints were operating on Road 60 between Ramallah and Jerusalem. According to UNRWA, the Israeli Border Police closed Ni’lin checkpoint for several hours at mid-day and detained a number of Palestinians.
• 5 September: The IDF closed Qalandiya checkpoint for several hours in the morning.
Jerusalem/Jericho governorates:
Jerusalem Envelope Barrier:
• East: Construction of the Barrier is continuing in An Nu’man, Ash Sheikh Sa’ad, Sur Baher, Sawahriya ash Sharqiya, Abu Dis, and Al ‘Eizariya. Construction is nearly completed from Mt. of Olives to the hill just south of Al Quds University in Abu Dis. Gaps still exist between the Mt. of Olives and Ras al Kubsa as well as a 75 metres gap opposite Al Quds University.
• Northwest: Construction of the Barrier resumed this week in Bet Duqqu. Work is still halted in Bet Ijza, Al Qubeiba. Construction continues in Qatanna and Kharayib Umm Al Lahim.
• North: The IDF started Barrier construction at AL Ram Qalandia main Road 60. About 120 concrete slabs were erected in the middle of the road cutting off the main street into two parts. The slabs in this area are 4.5-metres high because the infrastructure cannot hold the heavy 9-metre-high slabs. Work in this section is done during the night
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2 For a reference West Bank checkpoint map please check the following link: http://www.reliefweb.int/hicopt/maps/Closure/mar/checkpoints_march04.pdf
The enclosed areas in Gaza:
• As-Seafa: Since 22 April 2004, the IDF has allows only a handful of people with As-Seafa IDs to go in and out on foot, for one time only, with prior coordination, in order to bring food in. These people are permitted to exit and enter through the gate from approximately 6.30am to 8.30am and from approximately 2pm to 4.30pm, however opening hours remain irregular. No vehicles are permitted to enter or exit. Coordination for international organisations to enter the area has been extremely problematic. On 6 September, with prior coordination, three people were permitted to leave to bring in food. The 24 school pupils were not permitted to exit to attend school. Since 3 September, three-and-a-half tons of fresh produce (guava, lemon, eggplants, and figs) were not allowed to out for transportation to markets.
• Al-Mawassi: IDF restrictions remain, with the entry-exit gate at Al Tuffah checkpoint generally open twice daily for limited numbers of Al Mawassi ID holders from approximately 8am to 1pm and from approximately 2.30pm to 5.00pm. Since 10 May 2004, males below 30 years of age who are Al Mawassi ID holders have been required to have prior coordination to pass though Al Tuffah checkpoint. Since 6 June 2004, prior coordination has been required for unmarried females with Al Mawassi ID who are between the ages of 18 and 25. Vehicles are not allowed to pass, with some exceptions given for international agencies that have undertaken prior coordination with the IDF. On 7 September, Tel As-Sultan checkpoint was closed.
• Kfar Darom: The Palestinian area adjacent to Kfar Darom settlement was declared a “Closed Military Zone” following a suicide attack on 27 February 2004. Since 20 July 2002, no vehicular movement has been allowed in and out of the area and the IDF erected a fence around the area. Movement is restricted by the IDF with the entry-exit gate generally open four times daily for Al Maa’ni ID holders only from 6.30am to 7.30am, 10.30am to 11.30am, 1pm to 2pm and 4pm to 5pm. Access for international organisations into the area remains problematic. On 7 September, IDF bulldozers closed the beach road next to Netzarim settlement by erecting two big earth mounds.
Source OCHA FCUs and UNRWA
7. Access to schools:
Schools reopened across the oPt on Wednesday, 1 September.
West Bank:
• 1 September: Students and teachers from Silat adh Dhahr, Al Fandaqumiya Al 'Asa'asa and Jaba' villages were delayed from reaching their schools for two hours due to a flying checkpoint on the road leading to Jenin near Jaba' village (Jenin).
• 3, 4, 6 and 7 September: Students of Silat adh Dhahr village (Jenin) lost four school days because of the curfew imposed on the village.
• 4 September: In Bethlehem district, 800 students and 30 teachers did not attend their schools in Jurat ash Sham'a, Al Ma'sara, Wadi an Nis, Khallet al Haddad and Marah Ma'alla due to the imposition of curfew.
• 5 September: The students of Al 'Asa'asa village (Jenin) were prevented from reaching their schools because the IDF fired teargas at them.
• 6 September: Three IDF jeeps entered Tubas city and clashed with students on the way back from schools. IDF fired teargas and rubber bullets. Four students were injured and several students suffered respiratory complications.
• 7 September: Many students suffered respiratory complications in Ibn Al Nafees Elemenatary School in Tubas city after the IDF fired tear gas in the area of the school, 489 students are studying in this school.
• In Hebron district, delays of school and University students were experienced on Halhul Bridge, Dura Al Fawwar junction and on the main road between Hebron and Dura.
• Students living in Abu Dis and Azariyeh have faced problems in crossing the gate near Ras El Amood and Abu Dis to get to their schools. The gates are manned by Israeli Border Guards and passage through them requires a valid permit or Jerusalem ID. Several flying checkpoints have been set up during morning hours on the way to East Jerusalem. Hundreds of students from the area study in schools in East Jerusalem and have to take this route every morning
• In Ramallah, the first week of the new school year passed without any major incident.
Gaza:
• 1 September: At As Seafa, 24 school pupils were allowed to leave at 6.45am to attend the first day of school. They were not permitted to return before 5pm and forced to wait at the gate for at least six hours.
• 3 to 5 September: At As Seafa, the gate to the enclosed area remained closed: no one was permitted to pass including 24 students.
• 7 September: A 10-year-old child was struck in the head by Israeli fire while sitting at her desk in UNRWA’s Elementary C Girl’s School in Khan Younis camp. She was taken to the European Gaza Hospital where she underwent major surgery.
8. Labour movement to Israel
West Bank:
• No new labour permits have been issued in either Salfit or Qalqiliya and traders are awaiting the renewal of their permits. The Israeli DCL has stated that 365 will be renewed and another 300 will be issued for Qalqiliya. On 1 September, 300 permits were renewed for Tulkarm.
• No workers with permits from Hebron district were allowed to enter Israel after the bombing in Be’er Sheva on 31 August.
• In Jericho, no permits for work in Israel or in Israeli settlements were issued. The total quota number for commercial trade permits in the municipality of Jericho is 300.
Gaza:
• A total of 5,166 permits have been issued for workers and 226 permits for traders aged 35 and above, including 2,000 permits to stay overnight. However, no workers and/or traders were allowed to enter.
Sources: OCHA FCU, UNSCO
9. Other:
• 7 September: Israel released 188 Palestinian prisoners to ease overcrowding in its jails
Hebron
• 4 September: The IDF stopped the building of a new health clinic in At Tuwani village, Hebron district. The IDF arrested the contractor and the workers and confiscated the tractor for few hours before an Israeli peace organisation (Ta'ayush) intervened and help release them. Construction has not resumed.
Nablus/Jenin/Tubas
• 1 to 4 September: The IDF occupied a three-floor building in Silat adh Dhahr village (Jenin). The building is used as observation point. The residents of the house, 20 persons, were prevented from both exiting the house and having any contacts with persons outside.
• 6 September: A 13-years-old child was injured in Silat adh Dhahr village (Jenin). The child was evacuated through dirt road to Tulkarm hospital when it was not possible to reach Jenin city because of the curfew on the village.
• 7 September: Two building were occupied and used as observation points. The residents of the buildings, three families, were prevented from both exiting the buildings and having any contact with persons outside. One of the buildings was occupied 28 times over the past three years, according to residents.
Ramallah /Al Bireh
• During the week, the IDF carried out search-and-arrest campaigns in Ramallah, Dura al Qar’, Bir Zeit, Beit Rima, Deir Ghassana, Silwad and Al Bireh and at least eight Palestinians were arrested, according to the Palestinian DCL and UNRWA.
• IDF patrols are regularly entering ‘Abud village at night. According to residents, on 1 September at 7.20pm, a hammer fired a sound bomb near the Orthodox Church. On 4 September, at around 7pm, two IDF vehicles entered the village. Some Palestinian youth started to throw stones and a soldier opened fire with rubber bullets, hitting one 9-year-old child in the head.
• 5 to 7 September: The IDF destroyed a Palestinian car parked outside the mosque in Silwad, late in the evening on 7 September, according to villagers. The village was placed under curfew. People were permitted to enter but, no one was allowed to leave. The following day, the IDF fired on Palestinians who were throwing stones at the patrol. Two youth were injured. Also on 7 September around 11pm, another Palestinian civilian was injured from IDF gunfire.
Jerusalem
• Israeli Border Guards imposed a “Closed Military Area” near Biddu North West Jerusalem where Bedouins from the Abu Dahouq tribe live and have resided for many years. The Border Guards searched the tents and asked them to leave the area. The Bedouin families received eviction orders weeks ago
END
Document Type: Note
Document Sources: Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
Subject: Economic issues, Incidents, Situation in the OPT including Jerusalem, Water
Publication Date: 07/09/2004
Document Sources: Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
Subject: Economic issues, Incidents, Situation in the OPT including Jerusalem, Water
Publication Date: 07/09/2004