Lauren Booth will talk with George Galloway at Talk Sport from 10pm to midnight, about the situation in Gaza under siege and her plans for Aloha Palestine a ferry to Gaza.
Lauren Booth:
Film of Lauren Booth at Nakba meeting on 19 Nov:
http://www.humanrightstv.com/series/108
Letter in Islington Tribune: The true envoys
Lauren Booth at Talk Sport [George Galloway]: live Sat 22 Nov
Interview with Lauren Booth in Ham & High: website address
Oxfam: Food and medicine must never be used as weapons
GAZA HUMANITARIAN SITUATION REPORT, 17 Nov 08
Israeli piracy in Gazan water: Three Free Gaza internationals kidnapped out of Palestinian waters by the Israeli Navy
Regards,
Yael Kahn
Chair of Islington Friends of Yibna [IFY]
Islington_Yibna@yahoo.co.uk
07880 731 865
1.a. Film of Lauren Booth at Nakba meeting on 19 Nov: http://www.humanrightstv.com/series/108
The film of the excellent presentations of Lauren Booth at the Nakba meeting on 19 Nov, at Islington Town Hall [meeting organised by Islington Friends of Yibna and Islington UNISON]
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
1.b. Letter in Islington Tribune: The true envoys
http://www.thecnj.com/islington/2008/112108/iletters112108_06.html
Islington Tribune - LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published: 21 November 2008
The true envoys
• HOW wonderful and uplifting to read that someone is prepared to put their principles on the line and indeed even their life and describe the day-to-day reality of life in Gaza ('Israelis threatened to shoot us,' November 14).
I share Lauren Booth's view of her brother-in-law, the Middle East Peace Envoy Tony Blair, and am petrified about his silence and that of the media which allow Israel to commit these war crimes on the one-and-a-half million Palestinians in Gaza.
Since the visit of the chair of Islington Friends of Yibna, Yael Kahn, to Gaza via the Sinai Desert earlier this year, it has become clear from the interview in the Tribune that the situation has deteriorated significantly.
A meeting at Islington Town Hall on Wednesday heard an eye-witness account of the exponential rise in malnutrition in Gaza, especially for children, due to the physical lack of food, directly resulting from the Israeli blockade.
More of us should stand up and voice our concern and join people like Lauren Booth who are trying to make a real difference as true envoys.
Rob Langlands
1.c. Lauren Booth at Talk Sport [George Galloway]: live Sat 22 Nov
Lauren Booth will talk with George Galloway, at his live program at Talk Sport [from 22:00 to 23:59], about the situation in Gaza under siege and her plans for Aloha Palestine [a ferry to Gaza].
Aloha Palestine is a not-for-profit organisation that aims to provide a dedicated passenger ship service to the Palestinian people who have been suffering from the blockade imposed on Gaza: www.AlohaPalestine.com
For details on George Galloway's Talk Sport see at: http://new.talksport.net/shows/show.asp?showId=100229
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
1.d. Interview with Lauren Booth in Ham & High: website address
LAUREN BOOTH: the awkward sibling who likes to ruffle feathers- Interview in Ham&High with Katie Davies at:
http://www.hamhigh.co.uk/content/camden/hamhigh/whatson/story.aspx?brand=northlondon24&category=whatsonmisc&tBrand=northlondon24&tCategory=whatson&itemid=WeED17%20Nov%202008%2016%3A20%3A05%3A860
Please send your comments to: editorial@hamhigh.co.uk
Please note, the photos of the print version [13 Nov 08] are not included in the online.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
2. Oxfam: Food and medicine must never be used as weapons
From:
Date: Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:03:52
Subject: Food and medicine must never be used as weapons
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Food and medicine must never be used as weapons
Israel is collectively punishing innocent civilians by withholding and
controlling food and medicine to Gaza, says Christian Aid.
"With the recent upsurge in violence it is Palestinian and Israeli civilians
who will pay the price of failure and silence, and lose hope itself¹, says
William Bell, middle-eastern advocacy officer at Christian Aid.
Despite repeated calls from the international community, Gaza remains closed
to food and medicine. For almost one and a half years, 1.5 million
Palestinians have endured collective punishment as a result of Israel's
tight closure of Gaza.
In recent weeks the situation has once again deteriorated further with a
resurgence of violence.
Last week, UNRWA, the UN agency responsible for assisting Palestinian
refugees, announced that it had run out of food to distribute. With 80 per
cent of the population dependent upon food aid, the situation is critical
but the crossings into Gaza the only points of entry for people and goods
- remain tightly closed.
Increasingly goods are smuggled through tunnels from Egypt into Gaza, but
the high cost of items brought in this way, are out of reach for many
ordinary Gazans.
"There is a huge concern for November food supplies. UNRWA only works with
registered refugees, but what about non-refugees? Tunnels are the only way
of getting food and other goods, but this is only for people with money¹,
says a Christian Aid partner in Khan Younis.
The international community has failed to develop a new strategy for ending
the closure of Gaza. Similarly reconciliation between Palestinian factions
has remained elusive leaving Palestinians without a genuinely representative
body to press for a solution to the crisis.
"Simply letting food into Gaza is not enough¹, says Costa Dabbagh, from Near
East Council of Churches, a Christian Aid partner.
"We are fed and kept alive without dignity and the international community
should be blamed for it. We are not given hope. It is not acceptable for us
to be waiting for food to come. We want to live freely with Israel and other
countries in peace, we are not against any individual or government, but we
are against imprisonment.¹
Despite an agreement on cessation of violence since June 2008, Gazans remain
isolated from the world and continue to live in abject poverty. Although
getting food supplies into Gaza is a vital first step, Christian Aid
believes steps must be taken to resolve the political crisis before people
will see a real change in their lives.
- ends -
For more information or interviews with Christian Aid partner organisations
in Gaza contact Nadene Ghouri on 07590 710942 or nghouri@christian-aid.org
or William Bell on 07973 827535
Notes to Editors:
1. Christian Aid works in some of the world's poorest communities in
more than 50 countries. We act where the need is greatest, regardless of
religion, helping people build the life they deserve.
Michael Bailey
Advocacy and Media Manager
Jerusalem Office
Tel + 972 (0)2 656 6234 ext 223
mob + 972 0572233014
Oxfam works with others to overcome poverty and suffering.
Oxfam GB is a member of Oxfam International and a company limited by
guarantee registered in England No. 612172.
Registered office: Oxfam House, John Smith Drive, Cowley, Oxford, OX4 2JY.
A registered charity in England and Wales (no 202918) and Scotland (SCO
039042)
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
3. GAZA HUMANITARIAN SITUATION REPORT, 17 Nov 08
http://www.ochaopt.org/documents/ocha_opt_gaza_situation_report_2008_11_17.pdf
OFFICE FOR THE COORDINATION OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS
P.O.Box 38712, East Jerusalem, Phone: (+972) 2-582 9962 / 582 5853, Fax:
(+972) 2-582 5841 EUR ochaopt@un.org EUR www.ochaopt.org
1
United Nations
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
GAZA HUMANITARIAN SITUATION REPORT
17 November 2008
KEY POINTS
Between 5 and 16 November, EUR Israel has blocked all commercial and
humanitarian goods from entering into the Gaza Strip with the exception of
two days when some industrial fuel was allowed in. Civilians continue to pay
the price of conflict and violence and their access to humanitarian
assistance is at stake.
EUR Today, 17 November , Israel allowed 33 truckloads including 21 for
humanitarian aid agencies to enter Gaza. UNRWA, which was allowed to enter
eight trucks, announced that as of Tuesday,18 November , it will resume its
food distribution. The Agency needs a minimal of 15 trucks/day to sustain
normal humanitarian operations.
EUR While this is a positive step, the amount entered is insufficient to meet
the needs of all the civilians dependant on humanitarian assistance. Efforts
need to be redoubled to ensure that humanitarian organizations have
unimpeded access to enter and deliver assistance to all those in need in the
Gaza Strip. Whatever the political or security consideration behind these
measures, there is an obligation by all parties to preserve human dignity
and to ensure the basic well-being of the Gazan civilian population, of
which more than half are children.
EUR The average daily number of truckloads entering Gaza hit a new low in
November - 30 trucks/day - compared to 123 truckloads/day during October
2008. The October average was already low (constituting only 37% of the
amount imported in May 2007) and was almost the same daily average before
the 19 June 2008 ³calm² had been implemented.
EUR Because of the ongoing blockade and the shortages of stock, these thirteen
days of total closures have already caused severe shortages, especially in
fuel and electricity supply. The closure shut down the delivery of essential
humanitarian assistance to hundreds of thousands of beneficiaries- mainly
the most vulnerable- who are dependent on this critical source of aid.
EUR Israel¹s closing came in response to the firing of more than 100 Qassam
rockets and mortars into Israel injuring one Israeli civilian and causing
property damage, by Palestinian militants. This was following an IDF
military search operation which killed six Hamas operatives and demolished a
house east of Deir al Balah and Khan Younis on 4 November.
Statement by UN Secretary - General Ban Ki Moon 14 November 2008:
The Secretary-General reiterates his condemnation of rocket attacks. He
calls for an end to such attacks and urges full respect by all parties of
the calm that has been in effect since 19 June 2008.
The Secretary-General is concerned that food and other life saving
assistance is being denied to hundreds of thousands of people, and
emphasizes that measures which increase the hardship and suffering of the
civilian population of the Gaza Strip as a whole are unacceptable and should
cease immediately. In particular, he calls on Israel to allow urgently, the
steady and sufficient supply of fuel and humanitarian
assistance. He also calls on Israel to resume facilitating the activities of
the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East
(UNRWA) and all humanitarian agencies, including through unimpeded access
for UN officials and humanitarian workers.
2
FUEL SHORTAGES
Industrial fuel for Electricity daily rolling blackouts
The Nahal Oz fuel pipeline, which is the only line to import fuel into the
Gaza Strip, remains closed by the Israeli authorities for thirteen
consecutive days except on two days in which it was partially opened for the
inflow of the Gaza power plant¹s industrial fuel. Since 1 November, the Gaza
power plant has received a total of 1,345,430 litres or (24%) of the
5,700,000 litres it should have received during this period. Due to the lack
of fuel, Gaza¹s sole power plant was forced to completely shut down on 9 and
10 November.
Since 13 November, it has undergone rolling blackouts of up to eight hours
per day in most areas. The Gaza Electricity Distribution Company has set a
daily power cut schedule by which each household in Gaza City and in the
middle area have no power for 16 hours per day, 8-12 hours/day in northern
Gaza, 4-8 hours/day in Khan Younis and 2-4 hours/day in Rafah. The power
cuts are mainly affecting populations in Gaza City and central areas of the
Gaza Strip.
Gaza¹s normal consumption of electricity is 240MW. Its power deficit is
almost half- 103 MW, resulting from the blockade on fuel and mechanical
parts as well as the deficit caused by the 2006 Israeli bombing of the power
plant¹s transformers. The remaining 137MW provided by the Israel Electrical
Corporation (120MW) and by Egypt (17MW) is now being load-shared among
Gaza¹s 1.5 million population resulting in
intermittent power supply to households across the Gaza Strip.
COOKING GAS SHORTAGES
Bread rationing / households unable to cook
The Gas Station Owners¹ Association (GSOA) reported that there is a severe
shortage of cooking gas in the Gaza Strip and already 20 pita-bread bakeries
out of 47 are not operational. Bread rationing (one bag per person) and long
queues are occurring at bakeries. Cooking gas is also not available for
household use, causing some families to use any available flammable object
including wood and plastic to cook.
PETROL REDUCED
Petrol availability has been significantly reduced in the open market with
only 124,410 liters received from Israel since the beginning of the month.
According to GSOA, Gaza¹s estimated needs of petrol are 100,000 lit/day.
Diesel is available but supply is decreasing due to the increased
stockpiling by residents.
WATER AND SEWAGE
Most Gaza residents are suffering disruption to their daily lives as result
of the reduced access to water, since they are dependant on electricity to
pump water into their houses. During the power outages, the water cannot be
pumped above ground level. The Coastal Municipal Water Utility (CMWU)
reported that, due to the power outages and the lack of fuel (resulting also
from Palestinian political rift), 20% of water wells (30 wells) are totally
not functional, and 60% of water wells (85 wells) are partially functioning.
On 10 November 08, the CMWU launched an appeal, stating that the utility is
unable to implement its maintenance work to water and waste water facilities
due to the lack of fuel and spare parts as a
3
consequence of the closure. It was concerned that 150 water wells, three
waste water treatment plants and 35 waste water pumping stations could stop
functioning during the current electricity outages due to the lack of backup
fuel reserve.
On 16 and 17 November UNRWA responded to the appeal and donated 40,000
litres of fuel to the CMWU. This amount will cover the needs until 21
November. UNRWA has provided the CMWU in the last three months with115,000
litres of backup fuel. Approximately, 30% of the Gaza Strip population have
access to running water for 4-6 hours every four days, 30% of the population
has access to water for 4-6 hours every three days and 40% of the population
has access to water for 4-6 hours every other day.
The fuel shortages are triggering a further deterioration since sewage pumps
and the main station are dependant on electricity for operation. Without
sufficient back-up fuel, these pumps may not function which could result in
untreated sewage pouring into heavily populated areas.
FOOD
The closure of the crossings was also affected humanitarian food assistance.
On 13 November, UNRWA announced is could not continue its food distribution
to nearly 750,000 Gazans because of the shortages. Today, it was allowed to
enter eight trucks. The agency needs at least 15 trucks a day to sustain
normal humanitarian operations. UNRWA is expected to resume its food
distribution as of tomorrow, Tuesday 18 November.
A shortage of fresh food, meat and fruits and other types of food items has
been reported. Although there are no reports yet of flour shortage, there is
a growing concern for flour shortages to happen within this week if Karni
conveyer belt, the only crossing handling wheat flour, remains closed.
HEALTH
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that hospitals in Gaza remain
operational in spite of the power cuts. The hospitals currently have enough
fuel to power their emergency generators. However, there is growing fear in
hospitals and clinics regarding increased dependency on the back-up
generators to run basic medical services including surgical operations.
These generators are in place for emergency use only
and could fail at any time.
This blockade, compounded by the Palestinian political rift , together with
the suspension of development assistance, are having a devastating impact on
Gaza¹s already fragile health and sanitation services . The health services
are in a dire state there are pharmaceutical shortages, services closed
down, specialists without proper trainings, medical machinery in need of
repair and upgrade.
According to WHO, no pharmaceutical supplies have been delivered by the
Ministry of Health in Ramallah to the Central Drug Stores in Gaza since 1
September 2008, except for a few drugs shipments facilitated by WHO. The
last drugs shipment facilitated by the organization was on 24 October 2008.
Currently, 95 essential drugs and 174 medical supplies are reported to be
out of stock.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
4. Israeli piracy in Gazan water: Three Free Gaza internationals kidnapped out of Palestinian waters by the Israeli Navy
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
HUMAN RIGHTS OBSERVERS START HUNGER STRIKE IN ISRAEL
Massiyahu Prison, Ramle, Israel (20 November, 2008) - Three Human Rights Observers (HRO) with the International Solidarity Movement will begin a hunger strike tomorrow in protest over their illegal detention by Israel. The three HROs, Darlene Wallach of the U.S., Vittorio Arrigoni of Italy, and Andrew Muncie of Scotland, were forcibly abducted by the Israeli Navy on Tuesday, while accompanying unarmed Palestinian fishermen off the coast of the Gaza Strip.
According to Wallach, "We were fishing about 7 miles off the shores of Gaza. The Israeli soldiers came on board the three boats via four Zodiacs. The frogmen came up and over each boat. They used a taser on Vik while he was still on the boat, then tried to push him backwards onto a sharp piece of wood. He jumped into the sea to avoid being hurt more than he already was and was in the water for quite a while. Then they came for me and forced me into the Zodiac at the point of a gun. They kidnapped me and Andrew and Vik and all of the Palestinian fishermen."
Israel abducted and later released 15 Palestinian fishermen during the incident, and confiscated their fishing boats. The HROs are refusing to be deported, and refusing to eat, until the boats are returned--undamaged--to their rightful owners in Gaza.
"We R on hunger strike and want 2 go before judge in court. No deportation til boats are returned 2 fishermen," was the text message sent out from jail by the HROs this afternoon.
At court today, HRO Andrew Muncie asked the judge under what law they had been arrested. According to the judge, their detention was authorized by the Oslo Accords "because it is forbidden by military law for you to fish 7 and a half miles off the coast. It is a no-fishing zone."
However, the Oslo accords grant Palestinians the right to fish 20 miles off their own coast. When Andrew's attorney handed a copy of that portion of the Oslo accords to the judge, she had no comment.
On August 23, 2008, Wallach, Muncie and Arrigoni were among 44 participants in the Free Gaza Movement who were aboard the first boats in forty-one years to enter Gaza by sea, breaking the Israeli blockade. They remained in Gaza to participate in human rights activities with the International Solidarity Movement. They have been living and working in Gaza since the summer, providing accompaniment to Palestinian farmers and fishermen, and documenting Israeli human rights abuses in the Gaza Strip.
The three will stop eating tomorrow morning until the confiscated fishing boats are "returned in the condition they were in when the frogmen boarded the boats, with any damage they made repaired."
Please send your complaints to:
David Miliband, Foreign Secretary: http://blogs.fco.gov.uk/roller/miliband/entry/what_is_needed_is_nothing#comments
Ron Prosor, Israeli ambassador to Britain, Embassy of Israel, 2 Palace Green, London, W8 4QB info-assist@london.mfa.gov.il
British Consulate, Jerusalem britain.jerusalem@fco.gov.uk
For More Information, Please Contact:
Neta Golan (ISM Palestine) +972 (0)598 184 169 / +972 (0)22 971 824
Fida Qishta (ISM Gaza) +972 (0)599 681 1669
Donna Wallach (ISM Gaza) +972 (0)598 836 420
Film of Lauren Booth at Nakba meeting on 19 Nov:
http://www.humanrightstv.com/series/108 Letter in Islington Tribune: The true envoys
Lauren Booth at Talk Sport [George Galloway]: live Sat 22 Nov
Interview with Lauren Booth in Ham & High: website address
Oxfam: Food and medicine must never be used as weapons
GAZA HUMANITARIAN SITUATION REPORT, 17 Nov 08
Israeli piracy in Gazan water: Three Free Gaza internationals kidnapped out of Palestinian waters by the Israeli Navy
Regards,
Yael Kahn
Chair of Islington Friends of Yibna [IFY]
Islington_Yibna@yahoo.co.uk 07880 731 865
1.a. Film of Lauren Booth at Nakba meeting on 19 Nov:
http://www.humanrightstv.com/series/108 The film of the excellent presentations of Lauren Booth at the Nakba meeting on 19 Nov, at Islington Town Hall [meeting organised by Islington Friends of Yibna and Islington UNISON]
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
1.b. Letter in Islington Tribune: The true envoys
http://www.thecnj.com/islington/2008/112108/iletters112108_06.html Islington Tribune - LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published: 21 November 2008
The true envoys
• HOW wonderful and uplifting to read that someone is prepared to put their principles on the line and indeed even their life and describe the day-to-day reality of life in Gaza ('Israelis threatened to shoot us,' November 14).
I share Lauren Booth's view of her brother-in-law, the Middle East Peace Envoy Tony Blair, and am petrified about his silence and that of the media which allow Israel to commit these war crimes on the one-and-a-half million Palestinians in Gaza.
Since the visit of the chair of Islington Friends of Yibna, Yael Kahn, to Gaza via the Sinai Desert earlier this year, it has become clear from the interview in the Tribune that the situation has deteriorated significantly.
A meeting at Islington Town Hall on Wednesday heard an eye-witness account of the exponential rise in malnutrition in Gaza, especially for children, due to the physical lack of food, directly resulting from the Israeli blockade.
More of us should stand up and voice our concern and join people like Lauren Booth who are trying to make a real difference as true envoys.
Rob Langlands
1.c. Lauren Booth at Talk Sport [George Galloway]: live Sat 22 Nov
Lauren Booth will talk with George Galloway, at his live program at Talk Sport [from 22:00 to 23:59], about the situation in Gaza under siege and her plans for Aloha Palestine [a ferry to Gaza].
Aloha Palestine is a not-for-profit organisation that aims to provide a dedicated passenger ship service to the Palestinian people who have been suffering from the blockade imposed on Gaza: www.AlohaPalestine.com
For details on George Galloway's Talk Sport see at:
http://new.talksport.net/shows/show.asp?showId=100229 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
1.d. Interview with Lauren Booth in Ham & High: website address
LAUREN BOOTH: the awkward sibling who likes to ruffle feathers- Interview in Ham&High with Katie Davies at:
http://www.hamhigh.co.uk/content/camden/hamhigh/whatson/story.aspx?brand=northlondon24&category=whatsonmisc&tBrand=northlondon24&tCategory=whatson&itemid=WeED17%20Nov%202008%2016%3A20%3A05%3A860 Please send your comments to:
editorial@hamhigh.co.uk Please note, the photos of the print version [13 Nov 08] are not included in the online.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
2. Oxfam: Food and medicine must never be used as weapons
From:
Date: Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:03:52
Subject: Food and medicine must never be used as weapons
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Food and medicine must never be used as weapons
Israel is collectively punishing innocent civilians by withholding and
controlling food and medicine to Gaza, says Christian Aid.
"With the recent upsurge in violence it is Palestinian and Israeli civilians
who will pay the price of failure and silence, and lose hope itself¹, says
William Bell, middle-eastern advocacy officer at Christian Aid.
Despite repeated calls from the international community, Gaza remains closed
to food and medicine. For almost one and a half years, 1.5 million
Palestinians have endured collective punishment as a result of Israel's
tight closure of Gaza.
In recent weeks the situation has once again deteriorated further with a
resurgence of violence.
Last week, UNRWA, the UN agency responsible for assisting Palestinian
refugees, announced that it had run out of food to distribute. With 80 per
cent of the population dependent upon food aid, the situation is critical
but the crossings into Gaza the only points of entry for people and goods
- remain tightly closed.
Increasingly goods are smuggled through tunnels from Egypt into Gaza, but
the high cost of items brought in this way, are out of reach for many
ordinary Gazans.
"There is a huge concern for November food supplies. UNRWA only works with
registered refugees, but what about non-refugees? Tunnels are the only way
of getting food and other goods, but this is only for people with money¹,
says a Christian Aid partner in Khan Younis.
The international community has failed to develop a new strategy for ending
the closure of Gaza. Similarly reconciliation between Palestinian factions
has remained elusive leaving Palestinians without a genuinely representative
body to press for a solution to the crisis.
"Simply letting food into Gaza is not enough¹, says Costa Dabbagh, from Near
East Council of Churches, a Christian Aid partner.
"We are fed and kept alive without dignity and the international community
should be blamed for it. We are not given hope. It is not acceptable for us
to be waiting for food to come. We want to live freely with Israel and other
countries in peace, we are not against any individual or government, but we
are against imprisonment.¹
Despite an agreement on cessation of violence since June 2008, Gazans remain
isolated from the world and continue to live in abject poverty. Although
getting food supplies into Gaza is a vital first step, Christian Aid
believes steps must be taken to resolve the political crisis before people
will see a real change in their lives.
- ends -
For more information or interviews with Christian Aid partner organisations
in Gaza contact Nadene Ghouri on 07590 710942 or
nghouri@christian-aid.org or William Bell on 07973 827535
Notes to Editors:
1. Christian Aid works in some of the world's poorest communities in
more than 50 countries. We act where the need is greatest, regardless of
religion, helping people build the life they deserve.
Michael Bailey
Advocacy and Media Manager
Jerusalem Office
Tel + 972 (0)2 656 6234 ext 223
mob + 972 0572233014
Oxfam works with others to overcome poverty and suffering.
Oxfam GB is a member of Oxfam International and a company limited by
guarantee registered in England No. 612172.
Registered office: Oxfam House, John Smith Drive, Cowley, Oxford, OX4 2JY.
A registered charity in England and Wales (no 202918) and Scotland (SCO
039042)
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
3. GAZA HUMANITARIAN SITUATION REPORT, 17 Nov 08
http://www.ochaopt.org/documents/ocha_opt_gaza_situation_report_2008_11_17.pdf OFFICE FOR THE COORDINATION OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS
P.O.Box 38712, East Jerusalem, Phone: (+972) 2-582 9962 / 582 5853, Fax:
(+972) 2-582 5841 EUR
ochaopt@un.org EUR www.ochaopt.org 1
United Nations
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
GAZA HUMANITARIAN SITUATION REPORT
17 November 2008
KEY POINTS
Between 5 and 16 November, EUR Israel has blocked all commercial and
humanitarian goods from entering into the Gaza Strip with the exception of
two days when some industrial fuel was allowed in. Civilians continue to pay
the price of conflict and violence and their access to humanitarian
assistance is at stake.
EUR Today, 17 November , Israel allowed 33 truckloads including 21 for
humanitarian aid agencies to enter Gaza. UNRWA, which was allowed to enter
eight trucks, announced that as of Tuesday,18 November , it will resume its
food distribution. The Agency needs a minimal of 15 trucks/day to sustain
normal humanitarian operations.
EUR While this is a positive step, the amount entered is insufficient to meet
the needs of all the civilians dependant on humanitarian assistance. Efforts
need to be redoubled to ensure that humanitarian organizations have
unimpeded access to enter and deliver assistance to all those in need in the
Gaza Strip. Whatever the political or security consideration behind these
measures, there is an obligation by all parties to preserve human dignity
and to ensure the basic well-being of the Gazan civilian population, of
which more than half are children.
EUR The average daily number of truckloads entering Gaza hit a new low in
November - 30 trucks/day - compared to 123 truckloads/day during October
2008. The October average was already low (constituting only 37% of the
amount imported in May 2007) and was almost the same daily average before
the 19 June 2008 ³calm² had been implemented.
EUR Because of the ongoing blockade and the shortages of stock, these thirteen
days of total closures have already caused severe shortages, especially in
fuel and electricity supply. The closure shut down the delivery of essential
humanitarian assistance to hundreds of thousands of beneficiaries- mainly
the most vulnerable- who are dependent on this critical source of aid.
EUR Israel¹s closing came in response to the firing of more than 100 Qassam
rockets and mortars into Israel injuring one Israeli civilian and causing
property damage, by Palestinian militants. This was following an IDF
military search operation which killed six Hamas operatives and demolished a
house east of Deir al Balah and Khan Younis on 4 November.
Statement by UN Secretary - General Ban Ki Moon 14 November 2008:
The Secretary-General reiterates his condemnation of rocket attacks. He
calls for an end to such attacks and urges full respect by all parties of
the calm that has been in effect since 19 June 2008.
The Secretary-General is concerned that food and other life saving
assistance is being denied to hundreds of thousands of people, and
emphasizes that measures which increase the hardship and suffering of the
civilian population of the Gaza Strip as a whole are unacceptable and should
cease immediately. In particular, he calls on Israel to allow urgently, the
steady and sufficient supply of fuel and humanitarian
assistance. He also calls on Israel to resume facilitating the activities of
the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East
(UNRWA) and all humanitarian agencies, including through unimpeded access
for UN officials and humanitarian workers.
2
FUEL SHORTAGES
Industrial fuel for Electricity daily rolling blackouts
The Nahal Oz fuel pipeline, which is the only line to import fuel into the
Gaza Strip, remains closed by the Israeli authorities for thirteen
consecutive days except on two days in which it was partially opened for the
inflow of the Gaza power plant¹s industrial fuel. Since 1 November, the Gaza
power plant has received a total of 1,345,430 litres or (24%) of the
5,700,000 litres it should have received during this period. Due to the lack
of fuel, Gaza¹s sole power plant was forced to completely shut down on 9 and
10 November.
Since 13 November, it has undergone rolling blackouts of up to eight hours
per day in most areas. The Gaza Electricity Distribution Company has set a
daily power cut schedule by which each household in Gaza City and in the
middle area have no power for 16 hours per day, 8-12 hours/day in northern
Gaza, 4-8 hours/day in Khan Younis and 2-4 hours/day in Rafah. The power
cuts are mainly affecting populations in Gaza City and central areas of the
Gaza Strip.
Gaza¹s normal consumption of electricity is 240MW. Its power deficit is
almost half- 103 MW, resulting from the blockade on fuel and mechanical
parts as well as the deficit caused by the 2006 Israeli bombing of the power
plant¹s transformers. The remaining 137MW provided by the Israel Electrical
Corporation (120MW) and by Egypt (17MW) is now being load-shared among
Gaza¹s 1.5 million population resulting in
intermittent power supply to households across the Gaza Strip.
COOKING GAS SHORTAGES
Bread rationing / households unable to cook
The Gas Station Owners¹ Association (GSOA) reported that there is a severe
shortage of cooking gas in the Gaza Strip and already 20 pita-bread bakeries
out of 47 are not operational. Bread rationing (one bag per person) and long
queues are occurring at bakeries. Cooking gas is also not available for
household use, causing some families to use any available flammable object
including wood and plastic to cook.
PETROL REDUCED
Petrol availability has been significantly reduced in the open market with
only 124,410 liters received from Israel since the beginning of the month.
According to GSOA, Gaza¹s estimated needs of petrol are 100,000 lit/day.
Diesel is available but supply is decreasing due to the increased
stockpiling by residents.
WATER AND SEWAGE
Most Gaza residents are suffering disruption to their daily lives as result
of the reduced access to water, since they are dependant on electricity to
pump water into their houses. During the power outages, the water cannot be
pumped above ground level. The Coastal Municipal Water Utility (CMWU)
reported that, due to the power outages and the lack of fuel (resulting also
from Palestinian political rift), 20% of water wells (30 wells) are totally
not functional, and 60% of water wells (85 wells) are partially functioning.
On 10 November 08, the CMWU launched an appeal, stating that the utility is
unable to implement its maintenance work to water and waste water facilities
due to the lack of fuel and spare parts as a
3
consequence of the closure. It was concerned that 150 water wells, three
waste water treatment plants and 35 waste water pumping stations could stop
functioning during the current electricity outages due to the lack of backup
fuel reserve.
On 16 and 17 November UNRWA responded to the appeal and donated 40,000
litres of fuel to the CMWU. This amount will cover the needs until 21
November. UNRWA has provided the CMWU in the last three months with115,000
litres of backup fuel. Approximately, 30% of the Gaza Strip population have
access to running water for 4-6 hours every four days, 30% of the population
has access to water for 4-6 hours every three days and 40% of the population
has access to water for 4-6 hours every other day.
The fuel shortages are triggering a further deterioration since sewage pumps
and the main station are dependant on electricity for operation. Without
sufficient back-up fuel, these pumps may not function which could result in
untreated sewage pouring into heavily populated areas.
FOOD
The closure of the crossings was also affected humanitarian food assistance.
On 13 November, UNRWA announced is could not continue its food distribution
to nearly 750,000 Gazans because of the shortages. Today, it was allowed to
enter eight trucks. The agency needs at least 15 trucks a day to sustain
normal humanitarian operations. UNRWA is expected to resume its food
distribution as of tomorrow, Tuesday 18 November.
A shortage of fresh food, meat and fruits and other types of food items has
been reported. Although there are no reports yet of flour shortage, there is
a growing concern for flour shortages to happen within this week if Karni
conveyer belt, the only crossing handling wheat flour, remains closed.
HEALTH
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that hospitals in Gaza remain
operational in spite of the power cuts. The hospitals currently have enough
fuel to power their emergency generators. However, there is growing fear in
hospitals and clinics regarding increased dependency on the back-up
generators to run basic medical services including surgical operations.
These generators are in place for emergency use only
and could fail at any time.
This blockade, compounded by the Palestinian political rift , together with
the suspension of development assistance, are having a devastating impact on
Gaza¹s already fragile health and sanitation services . The health services
are in a dire state there are pharmaceutical shortages, services closed
down, specialists without proper trainings, medical machinery in need of
repair and upgrade.
According to WHO, no pharmaceutical supplies have been delivered by the
Ministry of Health in Ramallah to the Central Drug Stores in Gaza since 1
September 2008, except for a few drugs shipments facilitated by WHO. The
last drugs shipment facilitated by the organization was on 24 October 2008.
Currently, 95 essential drugs and 174 medical supplies are reported to be
out of stock.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
4. Israeli piracy in Gazan water: Three Free Gaza internationals kidnapped out of Palestinian waters by the Israeli Navy
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
HUMAN RIGHTS OBSERVERS START HUNGER STRIKE IN ISRAEL
Massiyahu Prison, Ramle, Israel (20 November, 2008) - Three Human Rights Observers (HRO) with the International Solidarity Movement will begin a hunger strike tomorrow in protest over their illegal detention by Israel. The three HROs, Darlene Wallach of the U.S., Vittorio Arrigoni of Italy, and Andrew Muncie of Scotland, were forcibly abducted by the Israeli Navy on Tuesday, while accompanying unarmed Palestinian fishermen off the coast of the Gaza Strip.
According to Wallach, "We were fishing about 7 miles off the shores of Gaza. The Israeli soldiers came on board the three boats via four Zodiacs. The frogmen came up and over each boat. They used a taser on Vik while he was still on the boat, then tried to push him backwards onto a sharp piece of wood. He jumped into the sea to avoid being hurt more than he already was and was in the water for quite a while. Then they came for me and forced me into the Zodiac at the point of a gun. They kidnapped me and Andrew and Vik and all of the Palestinian fishermen."
Israel abducted and later released 15 Palestinian fishermen during the incident, and confiscated their fishing boats. The HROs are refusing to be deported, and refusing to eat, until the boats are returned--undamaged--to their rightful owners in Gaza.
"We R on hunger strike and want 2 go before judge in court. No deportation til boats are returned 2 fishermen," was the text message sent out from jail by the HROs this afternoon.
At court today, HRO Andrew Muncie asked the judge under what law they had been arrested. According to the judge, their detention was authorized by the Oslo Accords "because it is forbidden by military law for you to fish 7 and a half miles off the coast. It is a no-fishing zone."
However, the Oslo accords grant Palestinians the right to fish 20 miles off their own coast. When Andrew's attorney handed a copy of that portion of the Oslo accords to the judge, she had no comment.
On August 23, 2008, Wallach, Muncie and Arrigoni were among 44 participants in the Free Gaza Movement who were aboard the first boats in forty-one years to enter Gaza by sea, breaking the Israeli blockade. They remained in Gaza to participate in human rights activities with the International Solidarity Movement. They have been living and working in Gaza since the summer, providing accompaniment to Palestinian farmers and fishermen, and documenting Israeli human rights abuses in the Gaza Strip.
The three will stop eating tomorrow morning until the confiscated fishing boats are "returned in the condition they were in when the frogmen boarded the boats, with any damage they made repaired."
Please send your complaints to:
David Miliband, Foreign Secretary:
http://blogs.fco.gov.uk/roller/miliband/entry/what_is_needed_is_nothing#comments Ron Prosor, Israeli ambassador to Britain, Embassy of Israel, 2 Palace Green, London, W8 4QB
info-assist@london.mfa.gov.il British Consulate, Jerusalem
britain.jerusalem@fco.gov.uk For More Information, Please Contact:
Neta Golan (ISM Palestine) +972 (0)598 184 169 / +972 (0)22 971 824
Fida Qishta (ISM Gaza) +972 (0)599 681 1669
Donna Wallach (ISM Gaza) +972 (0)598 836 420
e-mail:
