Hostilities in Gaza and Israel - OCHA situation report (28 July 2014)

This report is produced by OCHA oPt in collaboration with humanitarian partners. It covers the period from 26 July (1500 hrs) to 27 July (1500 hrs). The next report will be issued on 28 July.

Highlights

Hostilities resumed on the night of 26 July, following a short humanitarian pause; efforts to extend the pause have so far failed.
The pause allowed for the recovery of over 100 bodies and the delivery of basic supplies to emergency shelters, in previously inaccessible areas.
Large areas in Gaza city outside of the three kilometre-wide ‘buffer zone’ received warnings from the Israeli army to evacuate their homes ahead of attacks, triggering further displacement.
Food shortages in the market are reported in some areas, along with sharp price increases in vegetables and dairy products.
Despite some repairs to damaged lines, electricity outages continue for about 20 hours a day, challenging the operation of WASH and health facilities.

Situation Overview

The Gaza emergency enters its twentieth day, with the Palestinian fatality toll exceeding 1,000 (many not yet identified), and the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) surpassing 200,000. The 12-hour ceasefire that entered into force yesterday (26 July) at 8 am, was extended unilaterally by Israel to midnight, but was not fully upheld, with reports of rockets being fired towards Israel. Intense Israeli bombardments and ground operations resumed at midnight, alongside a continuation of Palestinian rocket fire. A UN proposal for an additional 24-hour ceasefire starting today at 14:00 was accepted by Hamas but reportedly rejected by Israel. With no place being perceived as safe and immune from attack, and Gaza’s crossings effectively sealed, the resumption of hostilities fueled further frustration, hopelessness and despair.

Throughout the duration of the ceasefire and beyond, ambulance crews and rescue workers continued to search the rubble of destroyed buildings to retrieve bodies, particularly in Ash Shujai’iya, Beit Hanoun and around Khan Younis. The pause also allowed for supplies to be delivered to previously inaccessible localities within the three kilometer wide ‘buffer zone’ declared by Israel, particularly in the northern and middle areas. Water tankers were able to reach some emergency shelters in these areas for the first time in several days. However, some areas, most notable Khuza’a (east of Khan Younis), have remained inaccessible, despite the ceasefire. A number of warehouses critical for humanitarian operations have remained out of reach as well, including UNRWA’s main warehouse in eastern Gaza City.

Gazans took advantage of the ceasefire to stock up on basic necessities. However, shortages of some food items in the local market have increased, and in some areas, large crowds have been observed outside of bakeries. While prices of staple food have remained largely stable, prices of fresh food, vegetables in particular, soared. Possible reasons for these shortages and price rises include the inaccessibility of some farming areas and food warehouses, as well as the increase in purchases by humanitarian agencies supporting IDPs.

Hostilities and casualties

Since the start of the ceasefire, over 100 bodies have been retrieved from previously inaccessible areas, however, as of this afternoon only 56 have been identified and included in the fatality toll. This is in addition to at least 16 Palestinians killed, or who died of wounds, during the reporting period, mostly between midnight and 14:00today. This brings the cumulative death toll among Palestinians to at least 999, according to preliminary data collected by the Protection Cluster from various sources. This includes at least 760 civilians (76 per cent of total fatalities); 151 members of armed groups; and 88 persons whose status is still unknown.

In one incident today at around 9:30 am, the Israeli army reportedly opened artillery fire at a rural area north of Al Moghraqa village (middle area). One of the shells struck near a poultry feed truck, killing Eid Ahmad Al Kharti, 70, and his son Sayan, 40, and injuring five workers.

Indiscriminate firing by Palestinian armed groups in Gaza into southern and central Israel resumed yesterday at 20:00, with most falling in open areas or intercepted by the Iron Dome system, resulting in no additional civilian fatalities. Since 8 July, three civilians in Israel have been killed, including one foreign national, and a few dozen directly injured by rockets or shrapnel. One Israeli soldier was killed during the reporting period and another two died of their wounds sustained previously, bringing the Israeli military fatalities since the beginning of the ground offensive to 43.

We express shock at the high number of civilians killed and injured in the ongoing Israeli operations in Gaza and at the rocket attacks launched by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups in Israeli civilian areas 1…] The actions of all parties need to be thoroughly and impartially investigated, and those found responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity, on either side, must be held accountable for their actions. Impunity for crimes committed in the past has had a lingering negative effect in this region.

Statement by the Special Advisers of the Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide, Mr. Adama Dieng, and on the Responsibility to Protect, Ms. Jennifer Welsh, 24 July 2014.

Displacement

Many IDPs took advantage of the ceasefire to leave the shelters to purchase basic supplies, and some to return to their homes to inspect damage and collect clothing and other essentials belongings; however, the vast majority have returned. As hostilities resumed, large areas in the southwest of Gaza city outside of the ‘buffer zone’, including Al Zaitoun, Sabra, and Asqula neighborhoods, received additional warnings from the Israeli army to evacuate their homes ahead of attacks, triggering more displacement.

Overall, during the reporting period some 8,000 additional people have sought refuge at UNRWA schools operating as emergency shelters, which are now hosting over 173,000 IDPs. It is estimated that another 10,000 IDPs are residing in 13 government schools and public buildings. This is in addition to the approximately 22,000 individuals who have been displaced, and are hosted by friends or relatives as destruction or damage to their homes has rendered them uninhabitable.

Public infrastructure and services

The pause allowed for utility workers to carry out basic maintenance and repairs. The Gaza Electricity Distribution Corporation (GEDCO) reported that four of the ten feeder lines from Israel were repaired in coordination with the ICRC, however, the three lines feeding Gaza city could not be repaired due to the large scope of damage. Scheduled electricity outages have continued for some 20 hours a day. While prior damage to the Gaza Power Plant (GPP) has been repaired, unless additional fuel is delivered, the plant will shut down tomorrow.

All water pumps and equipment for wells, sewage pumping stations, wastewater treatment plants and desalination plants have been affected by the sharp reduction in electricity supply. Those facilities without generators have shut down, while the rest are affected by an ongoing scarcity of fuel. As a result, the vast majority of the population has reduced access to water: due to the lower pressure in the network, water cannot reach certain streets, areas of higher altitude, and upper levels of multi-storey buildings. Several areas are exposed to public health risks due to the mixing of sewage with piped water, as a result of unrepaired damages to the networks.

Key humanitarian priorities

Protection of civilians: ensuring respect for the IHL principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution in attack.

Humanitarian space: increased access for humanitarian workers to carry out life-saving activities, for example, through regular and meaningful humanitarian pauses or corridors for the evacuation of the injured. This is needed among other reasons, to complete search and rescue operations in several areas, and repair critical water and electricity infrastructure.

Scale up response to IDPs: additional shelters are needed to reduce overcrowding and accommodate new IDPs, alongside the replenishment of food, water, and NFI stocks. Assistance for IDPs living with host families also needs to be increased, particularly the provision of NFIs and water.

Update on Gaza Crossings:

Erez: On 27 July, the crossing was open from 10:00 for pre-coordinated movement only, but subject to temporary closures due to hostilities south of the crossing.

Belt Hanoun (Arba-Arba): Closed until further notice but still accessible.

Kerem Shalom: Was open on 27 July as per its regular operation hours.

Rafah: Open today from 9:00-15:00 for medical evacuations

Humanitarian needs and response

Protection

Needs

At least 194,000 children require direct and specialized psychosocial support (PSS) on the basis of families who have experienced death, injury or loss of home over the past eighteen days.
Child protection and psychosocial support is urgently required to address issues of child abuse, exploitation and violence inside shelters and refuges.
Thousands of explosive remnants of war are left in civilian areas affected by conflict, causing a major threat to children.

Response

UNRWA is providing basic unexploded ordnance (UXO) awareness in shelters.
UNRWA counsellors are present in shelters to provide psychosocial support to people, namely children, in coping with their experiences of fear and loss.
Protection Cluster members continue monitoring and investigating incidents to identify possible violations of international law, as well as consolidating information on civilian fatalities.
Since 7 July, emergency PSS teams and PRCS teams have been able to provide initial psychosocial support to 1,466 children across the Gaza Strip.
Sawa Child Protection Helpline continues to operate providing guidance to caregivers via phone calls. Since 13 July the Helpline has been operating 2⁴/₇ with capacity to take 30 calls simultaneously. On 23 July, Sawa provided support to 120 people.
Since 20 July, 100,000 child protection and PSS text messages have been sent to Jawal subscribers in Gaza. World Vision is providing PSS to children in hospitals and UNRWA shelters.
Radio spots continue to alert children and their families to the dangers posed by explosive remnants of war, reaching up to one million people in Gaza.

Gaps and Constraints

Children and families are in desperate need of core child protection support and information, yet ongoing hostilities continue to impede movement of child protection staff and emergency PSS teams, as well as access to basic services for children and their families
Increased hostilities and major electricity outages since 18 July hamper communication with PSS staff.
Sawa Child Protection Help Line needs additional trained counsellors who can answer phone calls.
Due to the rapidly increasing need, the number of social workers and psychosocial support counsellors at hospitals is insufficient.
Managers of government schools serving as emergency refuges are yet to receive child protection training.
Displaced children and their families hosted with relatives remain largely unreached by child protection interventions.
Due to the precarious security environment and ongoing military operations, verification of information, in particular in regards to casualties, is difficult.

Shelter and Non-Food Items (NFI)

Needs

3,695 families (approximately 22,200 individuals) whose homes were totally destroyed or sustained major damage require emergency NFI kits. In the medium term, they will need cash assistance to cover rental fees and basic household items.
NFI emergency shelter repair interventions such as nylon and tarpaulin are needed for about 4235 families (25,400 individuals), whose homes sustained damage but are still inhabitable. 24,500 families (147,000 individuals), whose homes sustained minor damage require NFI assistance such as nylon and plastic sheets.

Response

Approximately 173,000 people are being provided with shelter in 83 UNRWA schools across the Gaza Strip and an estimated 10,000 individuals are sheltered in ten government schools and other facilities. Approximately 22,200 are taking refuge with relatives or host families.
11,108 individuals whose homes were destroyed or sustained damage have been provided with NFIs by shelter cluster partners to date.
On 25 and 26 July UNRWA delivered a total of 67 truckloads of NFIs to shelters.

Gaps and Constraints

Cash assistance of over US$ 18 million is needed to allow 3,695 families to cover rental fees and urgent expenses.
Emergency shelter kits, including blankets, mattresses, kitchen sets and hygiene sets, are required for 2,600 families.
Additional shelters for IDPs are required to reduce overcrowding at UNRWA schools.

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)

Needs

Rafah Municipality has requested support to prevent the spread of epidemics like lice and scabies, which have been reported in shelters.
Water supply to households affected due to low pumping capacity and restricted access to municipal water wells.
IDPs hosted at UNRWA shelters, public schools, with host families or in open spaces, as well as communities disconnected from the municipal water supply need water tankering.
Urgent need for fuel, to run the water wells as water is pumped to the network only when there is electricity supply.
Rafah schools require additional storage water anks.

Response

UNRWA, supported by local municipalities, is providing water tankering to IDPs in UNRWA shelters in areas where water pumping is currently not possible due to damaged or inaccessible WASH infrastructure. On 26 July, UNRWA distributed tankered water to a shelter in Al Maghazi which had been inaccessible since 21 July.
UNRWA sanitation workers were able to remove an estimated 313 tons of solid waste from all areas of the Gaza Strip on 26 July, including from Al Maghazi and Bureij for the first time since 21 July.
Oxfam GB provided 104 cubic metres of drinking water to 42,552 IDPs in shelters and public buildings in Gaza, Khan Younis and Rafah.
On 26 July, water storage tanks were distributed by WASH partners.
Ongoing assessment of water companies is taking place in order to up-scale water tankering of desalinated water to informal IDP shelters.
Since 25 July: CMWU installed a generator at a ground water well in Khan Younis; operated valves to distribute water to areas in the eastern part of Gaza city, which had been without access to water for days; repair a damaged pipeline in Al Fukhari, reconnecting 1,000 people to the network.
Municipal technicians carried out temporary repairs to damaged water and sewage pipes in a number of locations in Jabalia and Beit Lahiya.
WASH partners have flagged water-related diseases and is coordinating with the health cluster partners to prevent spread of diseases in shelters.

Gaps and constraints

The lack of protection during damage repair, operation and assessment remains the biggest constraint, impeding the immediate repair of water and waste water pipelines.
Most WASH facilities east of Salah ad Din road and in northern Gaza (buffer zone) have not been accessible for repairs, and are also likely to be inaccessible to water trucking due to the unsafe security situation.
Municipal technicians could not carry out repairs to the damaged pipelines in the eastern part of Jabalia, affecting the water supply to 2,000 residents.

Health and Nutrition

Needs

At least 22 health facilities which have been destroyed or sustained damage due to shelling require repair or reconstruction.
The health needs, including mental health needs for displaced families sheltering in UNRWA schools and other emergency shelters, need to be immediately addressed.
Psycho-tropic drugs for patients with mental illness, trauma and anxiety are in critically short supply.
Shifa hospital urgently needs neurosurgeons, anesthesiologists, plastic and general surgeons, and orthopedic specialists, as well as 20 ICU beds, a digital C-ARM machine for orthopedic surgeries, three operation tables and a lighting system for the five operation rooms.

Response

WHO is coordinating the delivery of needed medical supplies to NGO-run hospitals.
Four planeloads of Swiss and Norwegian funded medical goods, primarily IV fluids, surgical kits and medicine, arrived to the oPt via Jordan for delivery to hospitals in Gaza.
UNFPA, through the MoH, has donated US$ 500,000 to cover health needs in Gaza.
The Israeli field clinic which was set up next to Erez crossing on 21 July continues to treat injured Palestinians in coordination with PCRS and PA Civil Affairs Committee. In the past two days, a total of 18 patients were treated at the field hospital, 11 were sent for further care elsewhere.

Gaps and constraints

Only two of six Community Mental Health Centers are functioning (in Rafah and Zwaydeh).
On 26 July, only 13 out of 21 UNRWA health centres were open due to lack of security.
Shortage of medical equipment, skilled medical teams and drugs and disposables means that complex surgeries for vascular, neurological and spine cord injuries are being referred outside of Gaza. However, access through Rafah and Erez crossings is constrained.
Lack of adequate protection of health facilities and personnel, impeding emergency assistance to sick and injured.
Access to maternity care is also restricted for an estimated 45,000 pregnant women in the Gaza Strip, of whom approximately 5,000 have been displaced.
The military incursion restricts access to healthcare for wounded and for patients with acute and chronic illness.
The health and environmental condition in shelters is a major concern, especially lack of water and hygiene materials. Municipal garbage collection has almost stopped, which increases public health risks.

Food Security

Needs

Over 200,000 IDPs hosted at UNRWA shelters, government schools and other facilities, with host families or in open spaces are in need of emergency food assistance.
Immediate emergency funds to cover massively increasing food needs of IDPs are required.
Humanitarian access to allow for provision of food and other emergency assistance to the civilian population is urgently needed and should be guaranteed throughout the conflict.

Response

WFP, in cooperation with UNRWA, is providing ready-to-eat emergency food rations to all IDPs sheltered in UNRWA or government schools, an average of 200 metric tonnes of food per day,
WFP continues to provide food assistance to patients and hospital staff.
Food Security Sector partners are delivering complementary food distributions to IDPs at UNRWA and government schools. Other partners are reaching approximately 22,000 displaced persons in private shelters and host families.
UNRWA’s regular food distribution will be extended to also include Saturday and the Eid holiday, where distribution centres would normally be closed.

Gaps and Constraints

Bakeries, mills and dairy production plants have reduced their operational capacity due to lack of security and damage to facilities caused by military attacks.
IDPs residing in public schools and private shelters require food and other assistance. Immediate emergency funding to address the food needs of the increasing IDP population and for fodder provision for 3,000 herders.
Some food stores are located in areas which require ‘prior coordination’ due to the Israeli-imposed `no-go’ zone impeding the ability to provide much needed food assistance.
UNRWA’s regular food distribution is being put under increased pressure by the closure of UNRWA distribution centres in Deir El Baleh, Beit Hanoun and eastern Khan Younis due to heightened insecurity.

Education

Needs

Assessments conducted during the brief humanitarian pause on 26 July revealed damage sustained to eight government schools, one for the second time. Six of those assessed were severely damaged. The total of damaged schools since the start of the emergency now stands at 130, including 49 government schools and 81 UNRWA schools, in need of repair.

Response

During the humanitarian pause on 26 July, technical staff from the Directorate of the Middle area were able to visit school compounds in Burij camp, Nuseirat camp, Zawaida abd Deir El Balah to assess damage sustained to schools.
Tamer Institute has begun the distribution of children books and games to children and families hosted in the Holy Land school shelter.

Gaps & Constraints

Access restrictions impede the ability to assess impact of hostilities and carry out repairs to damaged school infrastructure.

General Coordination

The Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) continues its daily meetings, focusing primarily on the coordination of the IDP response and challenges related to humanitarian space. Some EOC members also carried out monitoring visits to hospitals and government school shelters. The EOC Secretariat met in Ramallah to discuss a coordinated approach to appeals by different Ministries. OCHA discussed the preparation of the HCT Gaza Crisis Appeal with MOPAD. The Launching of the humanitarian appeal is scheduled for 1 August, in Ramallah

OCHA, UNRWA, Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA), Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoElfE), Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PCRS) and Internal Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) continue the coordination of opening up additional government schools for IDP shelters.

Funding

A number of bilateral contributions have already been received from donors who have provided funding for urgent needs in the most critical sectors. Based on latest cluster/sector analysis, it is estimated that US $69 million is now needed for immediate assistance in Gaza, excluding UNRWA’s requirements. Some clusters have also made a latest estimate so far of up to US $220 million that is needed for medium term interventions once the security situation permits. The Humanitarian Country Team has begun development of a dedicated Gaza Crisis Appeal which will be finalized by 1 August to address urgent humanitarian needs resulting from the conflict. The appeal once finalized will supersede earlier HCT estimates.

UNRWA has issued its own emergency flash appeal which was revised up to US $115 million this week. The amount requested will help UNRWA respond to the urgent needs of the currently, 159,000 IDPs taking shelter in its facilities, while replenishing emergency supplies and preparing for vital interventions necessary after a cessation of military activities.

The 2014 Strategic Response Plan (SRP) for the oPt has received US$ 170 million (43 per cent) out of a total request of US$ 390 million. Nearly 90 per cent of 1.9 million vulnerable people targeted in the SRP are in Gaza. Gaza-specific projects have received 32 per cent of their requested funding.

The Emergency Response Fund (ERF) is an additional mechanism available to fund interventions in Gaza through rapid and flexible support to affected civilian populations. The ERF has begun processing project applications in regards to the Gaza emergency. Thus far, two ACF project proposals, (totaling US$ 368,624) to distribute NFI and water storage tanks to 1,475 households in Gaza, are being processed. Three additional proposals were approved today: support for the emergency needs of neonatal units in Gaza hospitals by procurement of essential drugs and disposables submitted by Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP), the provision of food packages and hygine kits to IDPs hosted in Shelters in Rafah and Khan Unis by Dabn Church Aid; and for the management of ERW to reduce the risk posed to civilians by UNMASt. A number of donors have come forward with expressions of interest or pledges for the ERF including Denmark, Ireland, Sweden, and Switzerland, as well as Italy, which is a new donor set to come on board. Further funding for the ERF is still being sought.

Background to the crisis

On 7 July 2014, the Israeli army launched a large military operation in the Gaza Strip, codenamed "Protective Edge", with the stated objective of stopping Palestinian rocket firing at southern Israel and destroying the military infrastructure of Hamas and other armed groups.

This development marked the collapse of the Egyptian-brokered ceasefire understanding reached between Israel and Hamas in November 2012, which has been gradually undermined since December 2013. The latest escalation round started in early June, characterized by an intensification of Israeli airstrikes and rockets launched from Gaza at southern Israel. Tensions further increased following the abduction and killing of three Israeli youths in the southern West Bank, on 12 June, which the Israeli government attributed to Hamas. Overall, in the period leading up to the start of the current operation a total of 15 Palestinians, including one civilian, were killed, and another 58 others, mostly civilians, injured, as a result of Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip; seven Israelis, five of whom were civilians, were injured due to rocket fire.

The current crisis comes against a backdrop of heightened vulnerability and instability. Unemployment increased dramatically since mid-2013, following a halt of the illegal tunnel trade, exacerbating the impact of the Israeli blockade in place since June 2007. Additionally, former de facto government employees, including the security forces, have not been paid salaries regularly since August 2013 and no salaries at all since April 2014. Delivery of basic services has been also undermined due to an ongoing energy crisis, involving power outages of 12 hours per day.

For further information, please contact:

Katleen Maes, Head of the humanitarian Emergency Operations Center in Gaza, maes@un.org, +972 59 291 1047

Yehezkel Lein, Head of Analysis, Communications and Protection Unit, OCHA oPt, lein@un.org, +972 54 331 1809

For media enquiries, please contact:

Hayat Abu-Saleh, Communications and Information Analyst, OCHA oPt, abusaleh@un.org, +972 (0) 54 3311816 For more information, please visit www.ochaopt.org

Endnote

¹Data on fatalities and destruction of property is consolidated by the Protection and Shelter clusters based on preliminary information, and is subject to change based on further verifications.

Hostilities in Gaza and Israel – OCHA situation report (28 July 2014)

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Hostilities in Gaza and Israel – OCHA situation report (28 July 2014)

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