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United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs GAZA HUMANITARIAN SITUATION REPORT – ESCALATION IN VIOLENCE |
27 FEB – 3 MARCH 2008
KEY OBSERVATIONS
· Israeli air strikes on Gaza and rocket attacks on Israeli towns from Palestinian militants in Gaza continued during the reporting period.
· Between 27 February and 2 March, 107 Palestinians were killed by the IDF and 250 were injured. During the same period two Israeli soldiers and one Israeli civilian were killed and 25 injured, mainly by Qassam rockets and Grad missiles fired by Palestinian militants towards Israel.1 (See chart below)
· The IDF operation exacerbated an already deteriorating humanitarian situation emanating from the near total blockade on Gaza since June 2007. Essential services, including water and sanitation, are close to breakdown. Because of the combined lack of electricity, fuel, spare parts and inability to upgrade networks, the Gaza Coastal Municipality Water Utility is forced to continue dumping daily 20 million litres of raw sewage and 40 million litres of partially treated water into the sea.
· The IDF operation has worsened conditions for an already stretched medical system.
Casualties in the Gaza Strip and Israel, 27 February – 02 March 2008
|
KILLED |
INJURED |
|||||||||||
|
Civilians Not Involved in Fighting |
Involved in Fighting |
Unknown |
Total |
Civilians Not Involved in Fighting |
Involved in Fighting |
Unknown |
Total |
|||||
|
Children |
Women |
Men |
Children |
Women |
Men |
|||||||
|
Palestinians |
27 |
5 |
20 |
42 |
13 |
107 |
60 |
10 |
31 |
0 |
149 |
250 |
|
Israelis |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
12 |
11 |
0 |
25 |
|
Grand Total |
27 |
5 |
21 |
44 |
13 |
110 |
61 |
11 |
43 |
11 |
149 |
275 |
INITIAL HUMANITARIAN ASSESSMENT
Medical services: Current stocks of medicines and medical supplies are insufficient to address present needs. The MoH (Ministry of Health) reports that 85 essential drug items, which are mainly drugs needed for operation rooms and emergency interventions, are at “zero availability”2 at central drug stores. There are severe shortages of other medical supplies, such as spare parts for medical equipment and medical consumables3, as most of them have been consumed during the last five days. In addition, fuel stocks in all MoH hospitals will only be sufficient for another four days.
Emergency health cases: On 2 and 3 March, 62 emergency cases crossed Rafah into Egypt based on criteria set by Egypt. In addition, 25 cases are waiting to leave, pending approval by Egyptian authorities.
Water and sanitation: Five major water wells supplying water to 150,000 people in the areas where military operations took place, did not operate between 1 and 2 March as IDF prevented any access to the wells. In addition, some 30% of the population is currently without regular water supply, due to electricity cuts resulting from fuel shortages.
Food: UNRWA and WFP stock levels will only be sufficient if 20 truckloads continue to enter the Gaza Strip on a daily basis.
Education: Schools in and around areas of military operations in northern Gaza remained closed between 1-3 March. The attendance rate of UNRWA schools in Gaza City was about 20% and in other areas of the Gaza Strip between 40% and 65%. On the evening of 2 March homework session at the New Gaza Preparatory School was disrupted when an Israeli helicopter fired into the school yard.
Ambulances: Four MoH ambulances were fired at while trying to get access to wounded people and four medical staff were injured.
INFRASTRUCTURE DAMAGE:
· On 27 February, an IAF air strike on the Ministry of Interior in Gaza City, which had already been destroyed in prior attacks, also damaged a clinic, pharmacy and an ambulance administered by the Palestinian Medical Relief Society.
· On 1 March, two UNRWA schools in Rafah and Al Zahra were damaged in IAF air strikes.
· The GEDCO (Gaza Electricity Distribution Company) said that eight of its transformers were destroyed by the IDF. The company had been able to replace seven, but currently has no more in stock. IDF has not allowed GEDCO to import additional generators, ten of which are being held at Karni since June 2007.
End Notes
1. Data on number of persons injured (Palestinians and Israelis) excludes wounded persons who were not hospitalized
2. Items at zero level mean a stock of 0-30 days, which is below the security level.
3. Medical consumables include items such as syringes, gauzes, bandages, splints etc., not including drugs.
Document symbol: GazaHumSitRep030308
Download Document Files: https://unispal.un.org/pdfs/GazaHumSitRep030308a.pdf
Document Type: Arabic text, Situation Report
Document Sources: Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
Subject: Casualties, Closures/Curfews/Blockades, Education and culture, Gaza Strip, Health, Humanitarian relief, Incidents, Water
Publication Date: 03/03/2008
Download Document Files: https://unispal.un.org/pdfs/GazaHumSitRep030308a.pdf
Document Type: Arabic text, Situation Report
Document Sources: Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
Subject: Casualties, Closures/Curfews/Blockades, Education and culture, Gaza Strip, Health, Humanitarian relief, Incidents, Water
Publication Date: 03/03/2008