GAZA SITUATION REPORT 35

12 August 2014/ Issue No. 35

HIGHLIGHTS

  • The 3 days temporary ceasefire entered its 2nd day. There are some reports about an upcoming framework agreement between Palestine and Israel. It was also reported that should the framework agreement fail, an extension of the 3 days temporary ceasefire was still likely for another 3 days or up to one week. Whilst a permanent halt to violence is crucial, a return to the status quo of the blockade is not a solution. The Israeli blockade must be lifted so that Palestinians can take control of their lives instead of being trapped in a man-made cycle of aid dependency and poverty.
  • UNRWA and WFP commenced the exceptional food distribution to all families not currently receiving regular food aid. Almost 8,000 of the eligible 143,000 families received a 30kg ration of flour and a 10kg ration of rice from UNRWA’s 12 distribution centers. In some locations the distribution was extended by one hour to accommodate the demand. This exceptional distribution over the coming two weeks presents a massive challenge to all UNRWA staff, as it requires careful planning in terms of logistics, security, protection, communication, including IT services for eligibility verification and data entry at the distribution centers.
  • Displaced in the UNRWA schools are anxious about their future in the Gaza Strip. Many ask whether they will have to leave if the new school year starts, whether UNRWA will support to repair or replace their homes. A Palestinian woman from Beit Lahia, who is displaced with her family for the third time over the course of the past 6 years after returning from Europe to live in Gaza, told an UNRWA staff: “What we need is peace. The situation is better here than outside the schools, at least we have food, water, electricity and a roof. A counselor is coming every day. But where will we go from here? Where will we live? Where will we work?”
  • The IDP numbers in UNRWA shelters remain fluid. As of yesterday 11 August 16:30, 27,396 IDPs had left UNRWA schools, but at least some are expected to return after having visited their homes. Some come back to the UNRWA shelters as they have nothing to eat and no water at home, or return if they find their house uninhabitable or have no family or friends to provide them with a temporary home. 209,522 IDPs were sheltered yesterday in 88 UNRWA schools. 2 shelters were closed in the Middle Area as the displaced relocated to another UNRWA school which already serves as a shelter. 48.7 per cent of the overall displaced in UNRWA schools are female, and 51.2 per cent are male. This proportion is similar to the pattern of the overall Gaza population.
  • Humanitarian relief personnel, objects used for relief operations – including UNRWA schools in Gaza used as shelters – are protected under international law. Whilst data on damage to UNRWA installations is according to preliminary information and subject to change based on further verification, particularly in those areas pending unexploded ordnance (UXO) clearance, UNRWA estimates that at least 103 installations have been damaged since 8 July 2014, the majority being UNRWA schools. There is also recorded damage to health centers, sanitation and social services facilities, and the UNRWA compound in Gaza City. Some of UNRWA installations were damaged on multiple occasions. With the ceasefire holding, UNMAS so far inspected 30 UNRWA installations out of which 27 are cleared.
  • Since the last update, the Protection Cluster recorded 2 additional fatalities. According to UN information, the cumulative death toll among Palestinians stands at 1962. 1417 are believed to be civilians, including 459 children and 238 women.

GENERAL

Past 24 hours: The UN Human Rights Council announced the appointment of three members to its independent Commission of Inquiry to investigate purported violations of international humanitarian and human rights laws in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and particularly in the Gaza Strip since the conflict began on 13 June. The Commission aims to establish the facts and circumstances of violations and crimes perpetrated and to identify those responsible. It will also make recommendations, in particular on accountability measures, all with a view to avoiding and ending impunity and ensuring that those responsible are held accountable, and on ways to protect civilians against any further assaults.

UNRWA RESPONSE

UNRWA has started distributing maternity packages to new mothers who have given birth during the current hostilities, and who are registered as IDPs in its shelters across the Gaza Strip. A total of 344 new babies are starting their life as IDPs in UNRWA schools, 152 girls and 192 boys.

The maternity packages contain essential items to help mothers care for their newborns during this difficult time of displacement. Each package includes a baby cot, baby diapers, hygiene items for both mother and baby, baby shampoo, baby body lotion and powder, underwear, baby clothes, and a baby's blanket. All new mothers will receive a package.

The first UNRWA school to distribute packages was Zaitoun Elementary Co-ed School (A & B), where twenty year old Rawan Shallah gave birth about three weeks ago. She was one of 24 mothers receiving maternity packages. Rawan and her family took refuge at the school after fleeing their home in Shujayia, in eastern Gaza. Rawan ran from shelling whilst nine months pregnant and faced dehydration and other health issues during her first days at the shelter. "I am relieved to have received UNRWA’s maternity package. It contains many items the baby and I urgently need especially in the current conditions."

Also from Shujayia is 25 year old Intisar Sarsak. Intisar gave birth to little Amer 15 days ago. Her baby had been suffering from high fever. "We are enduring difficult conditions. Sometimes I can't even find diapers for my baby. This maternity package is crucial for me and the baby, but we will need more if we stay here."

  • UNRWA delivered 18 truckloads of non food items (mattresses, mats, baby hygiene kits, water tanks, blankets, family hygiene kits and diapers) as well as 57 truckloads of food to shelters in cooperation with WFP.
  •  UNRWA’s regular food distribution to a total caseload of over 830,000 beneficiaries continued. Food rations were provided to 3,123 families through all 12 UNRWA distribution centers.
  • Under the UNRWA/WFP exceptional food distribution to 143,000 families not currently receiving regular food aid from the two agencies, 7,902 rations were distributed through 12 UNRWA distribution centers.
  • UNRWA, in cooperation with partners and donors, trucked 617 cubic meters of potable water to shelters, bringing the potable water supply to about 2.7 liters per person per day. This amount excludes bottled water supplied to shelters where there are no sufficient water suppliers available. 834 cubic meters of non-potable water was trucked by UNRWA, municipalities and contractors to the shelters. Some shelters benefit from UNRWA wells and municipal water sources. Over the reporting period, UNRWA’s 11 water wells in Jabalia, Beach, Khan Younis and Rafah Camps supplied a total of 11,860 cubic meters, including to UNRWA shelters.
  • 14 of 21 health centers were operating. With the ceasefire holding, 91 per cent of the staff reported to work, and 20,230 patients were served. Dedicated teams for health surveillance are being deployed to UNRWA schools.
  • Of UNRWA’s Infrastructure and Camp Improvement Department, 288 staff, representing 85 per cent of the permanent sanitation staff, reported to work. Together with 379 Palestinians employed under the Job Creation Programme (JCP), they removed a total of 366 tonnes of waste from all Gaza camps. UNRWA maintenance staff continue to undertake critical repair work in UNRWA installations.
  • UNRWA also continued to provide its logistics capacity to supply fuel to municipalities, water, sanitation and health facilities through the WASH and Health clusters (led by UNICEF and WHO). 30,000 liters were delivered to UNICEF for the Coastal Municipalities Water Utility (CMWU), and 25,000 liters were provided to WHO.

SUMMARY OF MAJOR INCIDENTS

Nothing to report.

UNRWA INSTALLATIONS

Data on damage to UNRWA installations is based on preliminary information and subject to change based on further verification. UNRWA estimates that 103 installations have been damaged since 8 July 2014. This figure does not include areas inaccessible to UNRWA.

FUNDING NEEDS

More information on the revised flash appeal can be found here.

CROSSINGS

  • The Rafah crossing was open for foreign passport holders and wounded Palestinians.
  • The Erez crossing was open for internationals and humanitarian cases.
  • The Kerem Shalom crossing was open.


Document symbol: GazaSitRpt_Issue35
Document Type: Situation Report, Update
Document Sources: United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)
Subject: Access and movement, Casualties, Ceasefire, Children, Closures/Curfews/Blockades, 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: 12/08/2014