GAZA SITUATION REPORT 30
07 August 2014/ Issue No. 30
HIGHLIGHTS
- The number of IDPs in UNRWA shelters has declined from a peak of almost 273,000 on the evening of 4 August to 171,240 displaced this morning (7 August). UNRWA will designate 25 emergency shelters in the Gaza Strip for those that have no home to go back to.
- Rescue and medical teams continue recovering bodies from areas which have witnessed significant hostilities. The cumulative death toll among Palestinians stands at 1,890, with 47 new fatalities reported. Of the new reported fatalities, 6 are children and 4 are women.
- UNMAS will deploy additional teams to Gaza to clear UNRWA installations in the former buffer zone (43 per cent of the Gaza Strip). Subsequent to UNMAS UXO clearance, UNRWA engineers will assess damage to UNRWA facilities.
- UNRWA engineers concluded an initial assessment of the damage to most of UNRWA facilities outside the buffer zone. This area (57 per cent of the Gaza Strip) has witnessed less significant destruction compared to the buffer zone.
- If the ceasefire is extended, UNRWA shelter assessment outside the buffer zone will start on Sunday and will take months to complete. Of serious concern is the access regime imposed by the Government of Israel, as there is no construction material available on the local market.
GENERAL
Past 24 hours: The temporary ceasefire, which will expire Friday 8 August 2014 at 08:00, is holding. At the time of writing it is uncertain whether the temporary ceasefire will be extended; and whether an extended ceasefire will lead to a political solution, including the lifting of the Israeli blockade. A return to violence as of tomorrow is still a possibility.
The number of IDPs in UNRWA shelters has declined from a peak of almost 273,000 on the evening of 4 August to 171,240 displaced this morning 7 August. 89 UNRWA shelters remain open. Whilst this seems to represent a dramatic decrease, the Agency is struggling to cope with the provision of water, food, and non food items on a daily basis. Based on historical patterns, UNRWA was ready to accommodate up to 50,000 people for couple of days, but not five times that number over almost one month. The Agency expects that a large number of displaced will have to remain in UNRWA shelters for an extended period of time, as they have nowhere else to go. In order to be able to open the schools again, the Agency plans to designate five schools per governorate as more permanent shelters. School start is planned for 24 August. UNRWA expects over 230,000 students for the new school year, and potentially many more if government schools do not reopen. For those displaced staying in the 25 schools, UNRWA will be responsible to provide humanitarian aid on a daily basis, requiring also for example more permanent solutions to the current hygiene facilities.
The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) continues their assessment of UNRWA installations in the former buffer zone, which encompassed 43 per cent of the Gaza Strip. On 7 August, due to time constraints and with limited staffing on the ground, only six out of the identified eight locations could be assessed. Three of the six locations require further assessment. As the area was subject to heavy shelling, UNMAS will deploy additional teams to Gaza so that the clearance can be done faster. Subsequent to UNMAS clearance, the Agency’s Camp Improvement and Infrastructure teams will assess the damage to UNRWA facilities in the former buffer zone, and at a later stage assess damage of refugee shelters.
On 6 August, UNRWA’s engineers concluded an initial assessment of damage to most of UNRWA facilities outside the former buffer zone (57 per cent of the Gaza Strip). The level of destruction is far less severe than in the buffer zone. If the ceasefire is extended, UNRWA plans to start shelter assessment as of Sunday. The assessment of refugee shelters outside the buffer zone is expected to take at least 4 months. Of serious concern is that there is no construction material available on the local market.
With the ceasefire holding, senior United Nations officials urged Israelis and Palestinians to return to the negotiating table. In an informal meeting of the UN General Assembly, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said: “This ceasefire has come at a price that is almost too much to bear.” He said that the massive death and destruction in Gaza “have shocked and shamed the world.” He also conveyed a personal and direct message to the UN staff members working in Gaza, noting that UN flags around the world will be flown at half-mast in memory of the colleagues killed. “Thank you for your bravery. Thank you for your sacrifice. Thank you for saving lives,” said Mr. Ban, stressing that attacks against UN premises, along with other suspected breaches of international law, must be swiftly investigated.
UNRWA Commissioner-General Pierre Krähenbühl addressed the General Assembly, stating that the temporary ceasefire has allowed the full extent of the staggering and catastrophic human cost of the war to become fully visible. He stated: “Should the current cease-fire hold, the situation presents UNRWA, the wider UN family, as well as other agencies working in Gaza, with formidable human challenges to address in coming months. There will be ongoing emergency humanitarian and recovery needs for hundreds of thousands of people, be it those remaining in shelters, those going home and seeking to rebuild their lives or those having no home to go back to. This requires food aid to families unable to meet their needs, and emergency employment to inject modest resources into households whose income and savings have been utterly depleted – while also providing a labor force to contribute to the clearing and repairing of damaged infrastructure. Hygiene and sanitation are at risk throughout the densely-populated territory, and under these circumstances disease outbreaks are becoming a serious concern.”
UNRWA RESPONSE
- Over the reporting period, UNRWA delivered 16 truckloads of NFIs as well as 62 truckloads of food to shelters. Food to shelters is provided in cooperation with WFP.
- UNRWA’s food distribution to a total caseload of over 830,000 beneficiaries continued. Food rations were provided to 3,574 families through 10 out of 12 distribution centers.
- UNRWA, in cooperation with partners and donors, continued to distribute both potable and non-potable water to 90 UNRWA emergency shelters and 4 government shelters at a time when there is almost no electricity and the water network is severely damaged. Over the reporting period, 588 cubic meters of potable water were trucked to UNRWA shelters, bringing the potable water supply to about 2.7 liters per person per day, excluding bottled water supplied through partners. The Middle Area, Khan Younis and Rafah potable water supply reached 3 liters per person per day. 607 cubic meters of non-potable water was trucked by UNRWA, municipalities and contractors to the UNRWA 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 11,273 cubic meters, including to UNRWA shelters.
- 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). 34,550 liters were delivered to UNICEF for the Coastal Municipalities Water Utility (CMWU).
- Of UNRWA’s Infrastructure and Camp Improvement Department, 77 per cent of the permanent sanitation staff reported to work. Together with 351 Palestinians employed under the Job Creation Programme (JCP), they removed a total of 365 tonnes from all Gaza camps. UNRWA maintenance staff continue to undertake critical repair work in UNRWA installations, including plumbing and electrical works in shelters.
- 14 of 21 health centers were operating. 87 per cent of the staff were able to report to work, and 18,984 patients were served.
- On 6th August, 98 UNRWA counselors reported to work, covering all shelters. So far, UNRWA’s Community Mental Health Programme has served over 80,000 parents and engaged over 87,000 children in recreational activities. UNRWA also cooperates with partners, providing additional support to over 6,200 displaced and to over 43,000 children.
SUMMARY OF MAJOR INCIDENTS
Nothing to report
UNRWA INSTALLATIONS
UNRWA estimates that 97 installations have been damaged since 8 July 2014. Data on damage to UNRWA installations is based on preliminary information and subject to change based on further verification.
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.
- Erez was open for humanitarian cases and international staff.
- Kerem Shalom crossing was open.
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, Armed conflict, Casualties, 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: 07/08/2014