P.O. Box 38712 East Jerusalem
Phone: (972) 2 – 5829962 / 5825853, Fax: (972) 2 – 5825841
OCHA update since 09 December 2003
(Please see previous update for oPt 03-09 December 2003)
INSIDE: Casualties – Incidents involving ambulances – Curfew – House demolition – Land
levelling/confiscation – General situation
1. Casualties
Palestinians: 8 deaths, 34 injured
Israelis: 0 deaths, 3 injured
2. Incidents involving ambulances and medical teams (19-21 November)
Denial of access: 0
Delay (90 min.): 1 incident
Attack/abuse of ambulances and staff: 0
Damage/Shooting at ambulance: 0
3. Curfews
Curfews were reported in the following locations: Anza (2 days), Beit Rima, Azzun, Kafr Laqif, Azzun Atmeh, villages of Jinsafut, Jenin city and Jenin refugee camp (1 day).
4. House demolitions
Demolished: 40
Partially Demolished: 4
5. Land levelling/confiscation
Hebron: The IDF bulldozed land between the settlements of Kiryat Arba and Kharsina to build a "security road". 67 dunums (16.56 acres) of land were confiscated; only one of the 20 owners of the land affected had been formally notified. The new road will link two military bases and will be fenced. According to the Israeli DCL the land-owners will be guaranteed access to over 400 dunums of agricultural land enveloped by the road through the construction of gates.
6. General Situation:
Gaza
- Three incursions took place in the reporting period, one in Gaza, one in Khan Yunis and one in Rafah. 33 houses were completely demolished and 4 partially demolished leaving 330 people homeless.
- Abu Houli junction was closed for Palestinians on 14 December. It was also closed 15 December from 10:00-12:00.
Tulkarm/Qalqiliya governorates:
- DCO checkpoint was closed for Palestinians on 13-14 December.
Nablus/Jenin/Tubas governorates:
- Incursions and arrest campaigns continued during the reporting period.
- 12 December: Several rounds were fired at a settlers' minibus near Balata village east of Nablus. Seven settlers were injured, three seriously injured.
- 12 December: Twenty-five IDF vehicles entered Jenin city and refugee camp, imposing curfew and conducting house to house search. Exchange of fire between Palestinian gunmen and IDF took place, no injuries reported.
- 13 December: A 21-year old mother of two children from 'Asira as Shamaliya village was shot dead near Immatin village south of Nablus, while she was in a Palestinian taxi on her way to Ramallah.
Ramallah/Al-Bireh/Beituniya governorates:
- An Nabi Saleh gate was closed on 11, 12, 13 and 14 December. Although Surda roadblock was removed, movement between Ramallah and its northern villages is difficult due to the closure of An Nabi Saleh gate. Residents of these villages had to use dirt roads to reach Birzeit/Ramallah. Flying checkpoints were established on road 465 opposite an Nabi Saleh gate, people were let through but reported being harassed by the IDF.
- 'Ein Arik road is open.
Jerusalem/Jericho governorates:
- Construction works in the Nov Zahav settlement in Jerusalem are suspended after a court order.
Bethlehem/Hebron governorates:
- The bridge between Halhul and Hebron was re-opened by the IDF. A gate has been installed and remained open. It takes people now 15 minutes to reach Al Arrub camp from Hebron city using public transport rather than one hour.
- Land levelling continues around Ayda camp for the purposes of preparing the land for the extension of the southern part of the separation barrier south of Jerusalem.
- In Hebron, on 15 December almost 700 permits have been issued to workers for the first time since August 2003. The number of traders' permits remains stable at 250.
- In Bethlehem, valid traders' permits stand at around 200 while the valid ones for workers are around 900.
(Source: OCHA field units, UNRWA, UNSCO, PRCS, MoH, Governors' office, Israeli MoFA & IDF web sites, Al Mizan, PCHR)
END
Document Sources: Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
Subject: Incidents, Situation in the OPT including Jerusalem
Publication Date: 18/12/2003