Highlights
- The initial 72-hour-long ceasefire that began on 11 August, is holding so far. In spite of some initial rocket fire between Israel and Gaza during the final hours of the ceasefire on 13 August, the ceasefire was extended for another 5 days until midnight on 19 August.
- Negotiations between the parties are on-going in Egypt to identify a lasting solution to the conflict.
- Approximately 350,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) remain in emergency shelters or with host families throughout the Gaza Strip.
- Alternative housing is needed for more than 100,750 people whose homes were destroyed or severely damaged.
- The number of child fatalities, at 459, exceeds the combined number of children killed in the two previous conflicts in Gaza, 350 in 2008-9 and 35 in 2012.
- On 13 August, six people, including an Italian journalist, were killed and six others injured by unexploded ordnance in Beit Lahia. Thousands of explosive remnants of war (ERWs) pose a major threat to children, farmers, IDPs returning home, technicians and humanitarian workers.
- Despite ongoing repairs to utilities, the majority of the population has severe shortages in water and power services.
- The first phase of a joint humanitarian assessment was launched on 13 August to assess needs and inform responses by humanitarian organizations.
- On 11-13 August, UNICEF for the State of Palestine received a high-level visit from Deputy Executive Director, Yoka Brandt, and the Regional Representative for the Middle East and North Africa, Maria Calivis (see text box, below).
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14 August 2014 50,375 children homeless (Shelter Cluster, 13 August 2014) 459 children killed (Protection Cluster, 13 August 2014) 3,009 children injured Palestinian Health Ministry, 10 August 2014) 1,965 deaths (Protection Cluster, 13 August 2014) |
Key Messages
- Accountability for the lives lost, homes destroyed and damage wrought is crucial for individual victims and for communities—for Palestinians and Israelis.
- We cannot return to the status quo. We must move on from death and despair to hope and opportunity.
- Full lifting of the blockade must be part of any political agreement, in a manner that addresses Israel's legitimate security concerns, otherwise re-building Gaza will be impossible.
- Build Back Better! We must seize this opportunity to bring about transformational change in Gaza.
Situation Overview
- In the absence of a sustained ceasefire, the number of IDPs that remain in designated emergency collective shelters remains high and fluid. On 12 August there were 207,221 IDPs hosted in 87 designated UNRWA schools and 13,634 in 27 government shelters. An additional 115,000 IDPs residing with host families have been registered by the Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA). It is anticipated that as the 5-day ceasefire progresses, numbers in collective shelters will drop as families return to their homes. However, the airstrikes early on 14 August may prevent people returning home due to safety concerns.
- 16,782 homes were destroyed or rendered uninhabitable. As a result, approximately 100,750 individuals require emergency temporary shelter solutions.
- The Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoEHE) report that 230 schools (90 UNRWA and 140 government) have sustained damages. This includes 25 schools that are completely destroyed or severely damaged and are now unusable. Facilities that require significant repairs cannot open in time for the new school year due to start on 24 August. Two universities and four colleges have also been damaged by shelling.
- There has been a steep increase in the price of certain food commodities. The price of eggs has risen more than 40 per cent, while other items have returned close to pre-conflict prices. An exceptional blanket food distribution by WFP, UNRWA and MoSA is ongoing and is set to continue for two weeks covering 700,000 who were not already receiving food parcels.
- A multi-cluster Initial Rapid Assessment (IRA) led by OCHA, started on 13 August at the Governorate level. After this initial stage, the assessment will continue at a municipal level and will provide an initial assessment of damages to inform humanitarian programming and response priorities. The success of the assessment relies on the ceasefire being observed by both parties.
- Over the past 72 hours, tensions between Palestinians, Israeli Security forces (ISF) and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem have continued to increase resulting in a number of violent incidents, injuries and arrests. During the past 48 hours, 52 Palestinians were arrested in East Jerusalem under suspicion of taking part in violent incidents over the past weeks. Israeli vehicles continue to be targeted in the West Bank. A Molotov cocktail was thrown at an Israeli vehicle near Shavei Shomron settlement near Nablus on 14 August. The situation across the West Bank and East Jerusalem remains tense.
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High-level Visit Deputy Executive Director, Yoka Brandt, and the Regional Representative for the Middle East and North Africa, Maria Calivis, visited East Jerusalem, Gaza and conflict-affected communities in Israel on 11-13 August and focused on the following: Overview of the emergency in Gaza and UNICEF's humanitarian response (in the sectors of WASH, Child Protection, Health and Nutrition, Education, and Social Protection) and future needs; Advocacy with key authorities, towards enhancing the protection of children, and ensuring humanitarian access with new terms of engagement; Hearing from children and families affected by the ongoing conflict; key partners and frontline workers from local authorities and NG0s; and UNICEF staff. |
Summary Analysis of Programme response
UNICEF's emergency response in Gaza is focusing on supporting conflict-affected populations inside collective shelters and in host communities. In East Jerusalem and the West Bank, UNICEF's support will expand with a focus on families affected by recent violence and hostilities.
WASH
- WFP and UNICEF distributed eVouchers for water, hygiene products and food to vulnerable families, many of which have lost their homes. 10,000 families (approximately 60,000 people) have been reached through the distribution. Discussions are underway to increase coverage to 50,000 families.
- In partnership with MA'AN, UNICEF is supporting water tankering for domestic use that will benefit 10,500 individuals in Gaza City for one month. So far MA'AN has provided 398 cubic meters of water.
- UNICEF, in cooperation with PHG, is also supporting water tankering to provide drinking water for 50,000 individuals for one month. As of 10 August they have delivered 138 cubic meters of water and 90 communal tanks in the Middle area of Gaza.
- The Coastal Municipal Water Utility (CMWU) is carrying out critical repairs across Gaza with $350,000 of emergency funding from UNICEF. Technical teams have restored the pipeline from the Rafah Waste Water Treatment Plant to the sea, and stopped the seeping of partially treated water into ground water wells. There are ongoing repairs to the damaged sanitation system in Beit Lahia. In total CMWU has repaired 1100m of water pipes and 740m of waste water pipes across the Gaza Strip.
- Procurement of additional supplies for future distributions is on-going, including 3,000 hygiene kits for adults, 2,000 kits for babies, and 1,000 additional ferry cans.
- 3,000 Posters with messages on lice and scabies control, hand washing and proper water treatment have been printed and are being distributed in collective shelters.
Health & Nutrition
- UNICEF provided essential vaccines to continue routine immunization. Vaccinations are underway in Primary Health Centers run by the Ministry of Health and UNRWA. UNICEF is monitoring vaccination coverage through PRCS.
- UNICEF is coordinating provision of Maternal Child Health services at Primary Health Centers with MOH and UNRWA.
- A shipment of essential drugs for children and medical consumables arrived on 13 August.
- UNICEF is cooperating with WHO, MOH and UNRWA to raise awareness on the importance of breastfeeding and monitor breast milk substitute donations.
- UNICEF, WHO, UNRWA and MOH coordinate the monitoring of communicable diseases and outbreaks.
- Efforts are underway with local partners to ensure provision of post natal care especially at shelters.
- Coordination with and technical advice to UNRWA and WFP on provision of food to displaced children aged 6 months to 2 years is on-going in collective shelters.
Child Protection
- UNICEF is supporting partners to verify all child fatalities. Daily reports are produced on killings, injuries and other grave violations against children including age and location analysis.
- Five emergency psychosocial teams (PCDCR) supported by UNICEF provided initial psychosocial support to 3,230 displaced people including 2,868 children, across the Gaza Strip in both hospitals and shelters.
- 42 staff and volunteers working in the government collective shelters have received a 3 hour briefing on core child protection principles to assist with their management of the shelters. The formation of child/adolescent friendly areas in shelters is also in process.
- Since 4 August, child protection and psychosocial text messages were sent to 320,000 subscribers of Jawwal in Gaza. The messages include actions that caregivers should take to reduce the vulnerability of children to death and injury, to reduce psychosocial distress and to prevent and respond to child abuse. UNICEF and Jawwal provided a free phone number to call for advice and support (Sawa Helpline 121). However, due to the current lack of electricity in Gaza, this messaging will now be integrated into the activities of other partners rather than relying on the mobile phone network.
- 3,181 adolescents and children have so far benefited from basic psychosocial and recreational activities provided by UNICEF partners MA'AN and Tamer in 12 government shelters. The activities are designed to help children and adolescents to better cope with displacement and their experiences during the conflict. UNICEF partners also trained shelter managers on core child protection principles to help with maintaining a proactive environment inside government shelters.
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Humanitarian leadership and coordination UNICEF leads the Child Protection Working Group and affiliated groups for mental health and psychosocial (MHPSS), and for monitoring and reporting of grave violations against children (MRM). These groups have been merged to maximise coordination of child protection responses during the emergency. UNICEF continues to lead the WASH cluster and co-lead the Education cluster with Save the Children, both in Gaza and at the national level, with dedicated staff capacity Emergency Operations Centres (EOC) have been established in Gaza and Ramallah. The Gaza EOC meets every other day to focus on the emergency response including monitoring visits to collective shelter and conflict affected communities. The EOC also acts as an advocacy platform to raise challenges related to humanitarian access. The EOC Secretariat in Ramallah supports Gaza to provide a coordinated approach to appeals by different Ministries. A more limited coordination group focuses only on IDP needs, in which UNICEF also participates. |
Funding
Next SitRep: 17 August 2014
Steve Catling
UNICEF Emergency Specialist, State of Palestine
Tel: +972 54 778 7608 Email: scatling@unicef.org
Twitter: UNICEFpalestine, www.facebook.com/unicefstateofpalestine
Download Document Files: https://unispal.un.org/pdfs/UNICEFSitRpt_140814.pdf
Document Type: Situation Report, Update
Document Sources: United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF)
Subject: Armed conflict, Assistance, Ceasefire, Children, Gaza Strip, Health, Humanitarian relief, Incidents, Internally displaced persons, Living conditions, Population, Protection, Refugees and displaced persons, Security issues, Shelter, Water
Publication Date: 14/08/2014