OFFICE FOR THE COORDINATION OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS
P.O. Box 38712 East Jerusalem
Phone: (972) 2 – 5829962 / 5825853, Fax: (972) 2 – 5825841
OCHA Weekly Briefing Notes
Update for oPt (21 – 27 April 2004)
INSIDEINSIDE: Casualties — Incidents involving ambulances — Curfew — House demolition — Land levelling/confiscation — Checkpoints/roadblocks/Barrier/restrictions on movement — Education — Labour movement to Israel — Appendix
Palestinians: 25 deaths, 97 injured (approximately)
Israelis: 1 death, 12 injured (approximately)
Sources: OCHA FCU, PRCS, IDF website, Israeli MoFA
2. Incidents involving ambulances and medical teams
Denial of access: 2 incidents
Delay (40 min -10 hours): 8 incidents
Physical/Verbal abuse of Medical team: 1 incident
Shooting/Damage to Ambulance: 6 incidents
Sources: FCU, PRCS, UNRWA, MoH, PMRS
Curfews were reported in the following locations:
Sources: OCHA FCU, UNRWA
4. House demolitions/Demolition Orders
• Over the last week, IDF destroyed six tents belonging to Bedouin community in Azzun Attma. No demolition orders were provided. ICRC provided the affected families with new tents and hygiene kits.
• 22 April: IDF completely destroyed the PA Ministry of Social Affairs building, in Beit Lahia.
• 22 April: Severe damage was reported to the PA Ministry of Social Affairs physical rehabilitation centre.
• 22 April: Part of Beit Lahia waste water plant were destroyed during an IDF military operation.
Sources: OCHA FCU, Al Mezan Centre for Human Rights, PCHR, MSA
5. Land levelling/confiscation1
• 23 April: Villagers of Biddya in Salfit district received an order to halt construction of a water storage project for the town.
• 21 April: The IDF issued a confiscation order (T/04/32) of 176 dunums of land belonging to Beit Jala city and Walaja village, Bethlehem district. The land confiscated appears to be the link between the section of the Barrier built up to Beit Jala and the confiscation orders issued for land around Walaja. This would effectively close off the southern part of the Jerusalem envelope and is likely to precede attention to the area referred to as the "Etzion block" of settlements.
• 25 April: Settlers from Ma'on Settlement burnt about 5 dunums and the harvest of wheat and barley belonging to Palestinians from At Tuwani, Hebron District.
• 21 April: Two IDF tanks and bulldozers destroyed four dunums of green houses planted with vegetables in Oraybah area in Khan Yunis.
• 24 April: 54 dunums of citrus, palm, olive and guava trees, including three dunums of green houses planted with tomatoes, were destroyed in Al Berka area south east of Deir Al Balah.
• 26 April: 10 dunums of olive trees were leveled in Khan Younis.
Sources: OCHA FCU
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1 4 dunums = 1 acre
6. Checkpoints/Roadblocks/Separation Barrier/Restrictions on movement
Tulkarm/Qalqiliya governorates:
• The status of high alert announced at the beginning of the Jewish Passover holiday continued over the week with restrictions on the movement of local population and a large number of military operations took place in both Tulkarm and Qalqilya towns.
• The additional earth mounds that were placed earlier in front of all the main entrances to Shufa village in Tulkarm district were removed allowing all local residents to move freely again. No changes have been observed in the adjacent village of Ramin.
• Earth mounds have been erected on that road that accesses the farmland for villagers in Kafr Qadum near the settlement of Quedumin. Farmers are now forced to take a detour to reach their agricultural land.
• The existing earth mounds that used to block the main entrance from Kfar Lagif to road 55 were replaced by concrete road blocks.
• Construction of the tunnel between Habla and Qalqilya town is ongoing.
• Opening statistics of Barrier gates are listed below in the table. The announced opening hours of the agricultural gates have not been strictly adhered to by the IDF. There were frequent delays.
Nablus/Jenin/Tubas governorates:
• Major delays were witnessed for Palestinians trying to cross the checkpoints around Nablus, especially students and young people.
• 21 April: Flying checkpoints were installed along the northern and southern entrances of Tubas city.
• 22 April: Flying checkpoints were put near Sanur village (Jenin).
• 23 April: Flying checkpoints were put on most entrances of Jenin city.
Ramallah/al-Bireh/Beituniya governorates:
• There was a high incidence of flying checkpoints in the Governorate; delays were witnessed particularly at the checkpoint in the underpass beside Kharbatha al Misbah. The partial checkpoints at Nabi Saleh and the Atara Bridge were also operating on a daily basis.
• 21 April: the IDF imposed a tight closure on Silwad village; a checkpoint was set up at the entrance to the village and people were prevented for hours from going home. Residents were eventually permitted to enter the village after the Palestinian DCL intervened on their behalf. Search and arrest campaigns took place.
Jerusalem/Jericho governorates:
• The closure imposed on the West Bank and Gaza has prevented people from entering Jerusalem as well as Jericho. Numerous flying checkpoints in East Jerusalem were established.
• Construction of the Barrier is continuing in different sections from Khallet an Nu’man northwards near Har Hommah settlement, Ash Sheikh Sa’ad, Sur Baher, Sawahriya ash Sharqiya, Abu Dis and Al ‘Eizariya.
• The construction of the Barrier in Al ‘Eizariya east towards Mount of Olives near Beit Fagi monastery is moving rapidly and will close the remaining section of the passage from al ‘Eizariyah to the Mount of Olives.
• The construction of the Barrier opposite Al Quds University is moving rapidly.
• The construction of the Barrier ongoing opposite az Za'yem Checkpoint with land levelling east of the valley towards Ma’ale Adumim settlement.
• Land levelling for the construction of the Barrier in the north western villages of Beit Surik, Biddu, Beit Duqqu, Bet Ijza, Al Qubeiba and Qatanna has continued throughout the week, suspended only in the weekend and on 27 April.
• The stretch of concrete slabs in the middle of the road between Dahiet al Barid and Qalandiya checkpoint is now 800m long.
Bethlehem/Hebron governorates:
• Closure was tightened on Hebron and Bethlehem Districts on 26 and 27 April preventing movement of Palestinians between the two districts and into Jerusalem. Movement to and from the western villages of Bethlehem and the urban area is also restricted by heavy presence of IDF. The curfew on Beit Sahour has effectively prevented Palestinians from entering or exiting the Bethlehem urban area. Restrictions on movement prevented UNRWA local staff from reaching their work on both days.
• 21 April: IDF closed the entrance to Walaja village with concrete blocks. The village is currently closed.
• 21 April: The IDF reopened the gate at the entrance of Dura and removed the earth mound at the entrance of Al Fawwar Camp, Hebron district.
• 21 April: The IDF closed the gates on Halhul Bridge with concrete blocks, Hebron District, preventing movement of Palestinians between the urban area of Hebron and Halhul. The bridge was reopened on 22 April.
• 23 April: Palestinians below the age of 45 were prevented from crossing at Gilo checkpoint to attend Friday prayers at Al Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem.
• 26 April: The IDF closed the internal roads between Idhna and Deit Samit, Hebron District with earth mounds.
• 26 April to date: The heavy presence of IDF at Al Khadr – Husan crossing, is restricting movement across bypass road 60, Bethlehem District.
• The number of valid permits for the Hebron national bus company is 34, of which 26 for public transport between Hebron and Bethlehem and 8 for movement between Hebron and Jericho. On 21 April buses could not move in or out of Hebron because IDF closed the gates on Halhul Bridge with concrete blocks. At Gush Eitzion CP random checks took place. Since 25 April, IDF have restricted transit through the checkpoint preventing movement between the two districts. No buses went to Jericho this week since the "Container" checkpoint has remained closed since 22nd of March.
The enclosed areas in Gaza:
As-Seafa: Movement remains restricted by the IDF with the entry-exit gate opening twice daily for As-Seafa ID holders from 06:30 to 08:30 and 14.00 to 16.30. Motor vehicles are not allowed to enter since November 2000, with the exception of international agencies that have undertaken prior coordination with the IDF. Since 28 January 2004, IDF started to allow women to get in and out of As-Seafa but movement is subject to body search and with 24 hours prior coordination.
• Since 17 April: As-Seafa gate completely closed, no movement is allowed. Since 22 April IDF is allowing 3-4 people to go in and out for one time only with prior coordination to bring food in.
Al-Mawassi: IDF imposed restrictions remain, with the entry-exit gate at Tuffah checkpoint opening twice daily for Al Mawassi ID holders from 07.00 to 09.00 and 14.30 to 17.00. No passage is possible for male Al Mawassi ID holders aged 15-23 without prior coordination. Youths aged below 15 must be accompanied by a guardian. Motor vehicles are not allowed to enter, with the exception of international agencies that have undertaken prior coordination with the IDF.
• From 21-25 April: Tel Es-Sultan checkpoint was completely closed, while Toufah check point was open for the people above the age of 40 years.
• 26 and 27 April: Both Tal as-Sultan and At-Toufah check points are 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 20/7/2003 no vehicular movement was allowed as the IDF erected a fence around the area. Movement restricted by the IDF with the entry-exit gate opening four times daily for Al Ma'ni ID holders from 06:30 to 07:30, 10:30 to 11:30, 13:00 to 14:00 and 16:00 to 17:00.
Sources: OCHA FCU, UNSCO, UNRWA
• Tulkarm/Qalqiliya:
– Over the past three days, children from Ramadin and Wadi Ar Rasha were not able to attend their classes in Habla and Ras Atiya as the bus transportation was suspended. In Qalqilya, for two days the pupils did not attend school as they observed a mourning strike for the three Palestinians that were killed on 23 April during an IDF operation.
– 26 April: During a military operation, tear gas was thrown into the UNRWA female school compound, 15 pupils suffered from tear gas inhalation.
• Nablus:
– 27 April: School in Huwara village were closed because of the curfew imposed on the village.
• Bethlehem/Hebron:
– 22 April: The IDF fired tear gas canisters towards the students at Fuqeiqis School in the village of Fuqeiqis, Hebron District.
– 26 April: Most teachers and students could not reach their schools in Beir Jala and Beit Sahour due to curfew.
– 26 and 27 April: All schools in Beit Sahur City, Bethlehem district, were closed due to curfew imposed on the city.
• Jerusalem: Access for students and staff to schools/universities have been greatly restricted due to the strict closure imposed 22 March. This has been especially noticeable for students/staff coming from the south of the West Bank trying to reach Al Quds University in Abu Dis and for non-residential teachers in Jericho.
• Gaza:
– 21 April: Due to the IDF military operation in Bait Lahia, both UNRWA and PA schools in Jabalia camp, Bait Lahit and Bait Hanoun were disrupted.
– 22 April: 2 schools in Dair Al Balah, serving 918 students, were closed due to an IDF military operation.
– 22 April: During the IDF military operation in Bait Lahia and Bait Hanoun about 50 percent of the windows at UNRWA Ezbet Beit Hanoun School were broken.
Sources: OCHA FCU, UNRWA, UNICEF
8. Labour movement to Israel
• Tulkarm/Qalqilya: All work and trader permits into Israel are still under suspension since 22 March and according to DCL the suspension will last until the end of the Israeli Independence Day i.e. 28 April. Only severe medical cases are granted permission into Israel for urgent treatment through co-ordination with the Palestinian DCL.
• The IDF has changed the logo of the "Green Permits". The original green permits were designed only to the West Bank areas. The new permits are similar to those that Palestinian workers usually obtain to work inside Israel.
• Jerusalem: No permits have been issued.
– Since 18 April: Both Erez crossing and the Industrial Estate were closed and workers were allowed to cross.
– 11,429 workers holding valid work permits were not allowed to cross the Green Line due to the imposed closure. Since 22 March 2004, Erez checkpoint has been closed for Palestinian workers but partially reopened for some tens of Palestinian traders aged 28 and above, on 28 March 2004.
Sources: OCHA FCU, UNSCO, PMG
• 18 April to date: The garbage collection truck used for the western villages of Bethlehem and based in Husan has been confiscated by the IDF as it was dumping rubbish illegally. There has been no garbage collection for the last 10 days. The IDF and DCL have yet to provide an adequate solution to the sanitation problems in these villages.
Appendix: Checkpoints Status 07 – 13 April 2004
