OCHA Situation Report
Occupied Palestinian Territories
Report for July 2004
31 August 2004


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Overview

Among the main developments affecting the humanitarian situation in the
occupied Palestinian territory in July were the deterioration of the
situation in the Gaza Strip, especially around Beit Hanoun and the Rafah
terminal crossing, and growing concerns for humanitarian access and the
safety of humanitarian staff in Gaza. Serious security incidents have
occurred near UN workers in Beit Hanoun, and staff members from other
agencies have experienced similar incidents. Heightened security concerns
are restricting humanitarian assistance. Meanwhile, four French aid
workers were kidnapped for several hours in Khan Younis, in the southern
Gaza Strip, on 16 July, and later released without physical harm. Three
other internationals were released early on 31 July, hours after they had
been abducted in the West Bank city of Nablus.

Responding to prevailing insecurity in Gaza, Peter Hansen,
Commissioner-General of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine
Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), relocated some staff to Jerusalem on 29
July, while pledging that the move would not hamper the provision of aid
or services to refugees in need. In a statement issued in Gaza, he
explained that "recent worrying developments - including the extensive
Israeli military operations in Beit Hanoun and increased unpredictability
and insecurity faced by UN staff in crossing into and out of the Gaza
Strip at Erez", were behind the decision. For more details, go to: [
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=11499&Cr=palestin&Cr1=]

On 9 July, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued its advisory
opinion that the Barrier represented a breach of international
humanitarian law and should be dismantled.
[http://www.icj-cij.org/icjwww/iwhats.htm] The potential humanitarian
implications of that decision are still uncertain as the international
community and appropriate United Nations bodies deliberate on the ruling
and consider its implications.

Health concerns at Rafah terminal, Gaza Strip

The Rafah passenger terminal, linking the Gaza Strip with Egypt, was
closed by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to all Palestinian passengers
from 11 July to the end of the month, except for the weekend of 15-17. At
least 2,500 passengers were left waiting at the Egyptian side of the
terminal and in nearby guest houses at the end of July, with some
estimates putting the number of stranded people considerably higher.

Humanitarian agencies were particularly concerned about Palestinians who
had travelled from the Gaza Strip to Egypt for medical treatment not
available inside Gaza, and who were waiting at the terminal to return, and
about ordinary passengers suffering from a range of medical complaints.
Public health concerns were also raised in light of the very basic hygiene
facilities available at the Egyptian side of the terminal and temperatures
hovering between 30=B0 and 40=B0 Celsius.

The Israeli authorities said that closing Rafah terminal had been done on
security grounds. At one point, it reportedly offered to open Al Ouja (or
Netzana) commercial terminal, some 50km to the east, to allow up to 200
Palestinians a day into the Gaza Strip. That would have required
passengers to travel from the Egyptian side of Rafah terminal to Al Ouja,
and from there 60km to enter at Sofa Crossing.

The Palestinian Authority is understood to have refused that offer on the
grounds that it would take too long for all those Palestinians waiting in
Egypt to get back into Gaza. There was also concern that Palestinians
would have some 110km added to their journeys, and at the broader issue of
having Palestinians to pass through Israeli territory to enter Gaza from
Egypt.

Access problems worsen in Beit Hanoun, Gaza Strip

Amid military operations by the IDF from 29 June, following the deaths of
two Israelis in a Qassam rocket attack on the nearby Israeli town of
Sderot, Palestinian Ministry of Health sources reported that at least 17
Palestinians have been killed and 154 injured to 29 July. At least three
IDF soldiers have been reported injured.

Beit Hanoun has more than 30,000 residents, most of whom are registered
refugees. An additional 7,000 Palestinians live in surrounding areas.
Restricted humanitarian access is a primary concern, given notable
shortages of water, food and medical supplies in some areas. Water and
electricity networks, main roads, telephone lines and sewage pipes have
also been damaged during IDF operations.

OCHA and UNRWA are particularly concerned about access problems. In more
serious instances, the IDF has opened fire near aid workers when they have
arrived in an area, despite prior coordination efforts.

See Beit Hanoun situation reports at: [http://www.reliefweb.int/hic-opt/]

Humanitarian effects of Barrier route changes

On 30 June 2004, the government of Israel revised the route of the West
Bank Barrier and published a map on its seam zone website
[www.seamzone.mod.gov.il]. In July, OCHA was able to analyse that map and
assess the humanitarian implications of the revised route of the Barrier,
which threatens to cut people off from their land, places of work and
basic social services, to fragment communities and isolate residents from
social support networks.

According to the revised route, about 15% of the proposed 622km Barrier
will follow the Green Line, up from 10% of a proposed 638km Barrier in
January. While part of the proposed Barrier lies on the Green Line, most
of the revised route still passes through the West Bank. Approximately
63,120 hectares, or about 11.5%, of West Bank land, excluding East
Jerusalem, will lie between the Barrier and the Green Line, according to
the revised route.

This land, some of the most fertile in the West Bank, is home to more than
93,200 Palestinians in 63 villages and towns (excluding East Jerusalem).
Of these people, 16,300 will live in closed areas: areas between the
Barrier and the Green Line -- down from 20,000 in January. Another 76,900
will live in enclaves, totally surrounded by the Barrier -- down from
169,000 in January. In the semi-enclaves, an additional 15,400
Palestinians will live in areas encircled by the Barrier, which they can
enter and leave by just one route.

The proposed route of the Barrier would also open up two areas west of
Ramallah (one from Rantis to Deir Qaddis, the other from Saffa to Beit
Surik), with a combined population of over 76,000 Palestinians, that would
have been cut off going by previous plans, although access issues will
persist. See full report at:

[http://www.reliefweb.int/hic-opt/docs/UN/OCHA/update3barrierprojections9July04_maps.pdf

Beit Surik - OCHA published a separate report in July on the particular
case of the presence and route of the Barrier in Beit Surik, southwest of
Ramallah. The Israeli Supreme Court ruled on 30 June that the route should
be changed there because it impinged too much on residents. That decision
is likely to give Palestinians greater access to their lands than
envisaged in the original Barrier plan, but humanitarian concerns remain.
Even if Barrier is rerouted, it will curtail people's access to markets,
schools and health services in Ramallah and Jerusalem.

See full report at:
[http://www.reliefweb.int/hic-opt/docs/UN/OCHA/BeitSurik23July04.pdf]

Land agreement paves way for home rebuilding in Rafah

On 11 July, two United Nations agencies and the Palestinian Authority (PA)
signed a land agreement that will allow the rebuilding of homes in Rafah,
replacing those that have been demolished by the Israeli military since
the start of the current intifada in September 2000.

Under the land agreement signed with UNRWA and the UNDP, the PA will
donate 430 dunums (43 hectares) of land in Rafah, at the south of the Gaza
Strip, to a project to rebuild homes for some 15,000 people who lost their
homes there. UNDP said it has funding approval that will allow it to build
at least 700 homes, schools, roads and other community amenities.
Additional funding had been contingent on the UN receiving this donation
of land from the PA. More than 22,000 people have lost their homes,
approximately 2,270 buildings, to Israeli demolitions in the Gaza Strip
since the start of the current intifada, according to UNRWA.

Homelessness is one of the most pressing humanitarian issues for the
people of Rafah, according to a UN interagency humanitarian needs
assessment in June 2004.

In 2002, an average of 15 homes were destroyed or damaged beyond repair
each month in Rafah. In 2003, the average was 47 homes and in the first
five months of 2004, the number of homes was 100 a month. If further
demolitions occur, the homeless may be forced to live in tent villages,
with severe sanitation and health risks and even greater community
dislocation, according to the needs assessment.

The government of Israel has said that house demolitions are among the
measures the IDF takes to maintain Israel's security. UN Secretary-General
Kofi Annan has condemned mass demolitions in Rafah and reminded Israel
that collective punishment of civilians for the actions of armed militants
is a breach of international humanitarian law.

For more information on the Rafah rebuilding plans, go to:
[http://www.un.org/unrwa/]

Measles immunisation campaign goes well

In July, UNICEF wrapped up a three-week measles immunisation campaign in
the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The goal was to provide more than 540,000
children aged 9 months to five years with a safe injection of measles
vaccine and doses of Vitamin A.

More than one-third of young Palestinian children had shown no immunity to
measles, according to a recent survey conducted by the Palestinian
Ministry of Health and UNICEF. In some areas, the percentage was up to
50%. Among the potential causes was that routine immunisation services in
the last two years were compromised, according to UNICEF. For example,
refrigerated vaccine boxes were opened at checkpoints, possibly reducing
the effectiveness of vaccines. Moreover, more than 22% of children less
than five years of age suffer from a deficiency of vitamin A and an
additional 54% are at risk of developing it. Vitamin A deficiency is the
leading cause of preventable blindness in children globally, and raises
the risk of disease and death from severe infections.

In the recent campaign, dozens of mobile teams conducted immunisations in
15 districts in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Trained logistic teams
ensured the delivery of vaccine, vitamin doses and equipment to outlying
villages. Measles, a leading cause of child mortality globally, is caused
by a highly infectious virus. The threat is compounded when children are
malnourished, even more so in densely populated areas like those in the
Palestinian community, according to UNICEF. For more information, go to:
[http://www.unicef.org]

EC pledges E124.25m to Palestinians

On 29 July, noting the continuing economic problems and human suffering in
the occupied Palestinian territory, the European Commission (EC) announced
the approval of E124.25m (676m shekels) in funding for the West Bank and
Gaza. That includes emergency support to social services, to mitigate the
deterioration resulting from the ongoing conflict, of E22.75m (124m
shekels).

The EC package comes on top of around E89m it has already earmarked
through UNRWA, of which E8m comes from the European Commission
Humanitarian Office (ECHO); E29m for humanitarian aid through ECHO; around
E10m for food aid and food security through WFP and NGOs, and for the
European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights.

The UN and its partners in oPt sought a total of $305m (or around E253m)
in the Consolidated Appeal Process for 2004 to assist the people most
affected by the humanitarian consequences of the continuing Palestinian
crisis.

In its 29 July press release, the EC said income levels had dropped
severely and that "the level of suffering is unprecedented" in the West
Bank and Gaza Strip. The EC said its assistance in 2004 was focused
addressing urgent needs and contributing to the creation of a viable and
democratic Palestinian state. For more information, go to: [
http://europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/gaza/intro/index.htm]

Meanwhile, the US government authorised the use of up to $20m (90m
shekels) from the US Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance Fund to
allow UNRWA assist Palestinian refugees in the West Bank and Gaza. The US
State Department said on 29 July that the contribution was in response to
UNRWA's $193m emergency appeal for 2004 to fund the food, shelter, health
and other urgent humanitarian needs of over 1.5 million Palestinian
refugees in the West Bank and Gaza. For more information, go to:
[http://www.state.gov/]

Recreation aimed at giving children a lift

A summer camp project supported by UNICEF started throughout the West Bank
and Gaza Strip in July, bringing educational, recreational and play
activities to some 17,000 Palestinian children.

The camps are intended in part to help Palestinian children make up for
reduced class times in school, according to UNICEF. Education has been
hindered by further construction of the Barrier, closure and curfews, and
by house demolitions. From November 2003 to May 2004, some 126 school days
were lost, according to the Consolidated Appeal mid-year review of the
United Nations family in the occupied Palestinian territory.

The camps, 100 in all, were also conceived as safe havens where children
can escape the ongoing conflict and learn about non-violent conflict
resolution and peace-building activities. Due to operate until mid-August,
the camps typically last about two weeks, operate for a half day and are
held in schools, community centres and parks. The agency said it hoped the
camps would help ease stress among Palestinian children and adolescents.

There are two types of summer camp this summer: 50 summer clubs for an
estimated 10,000 children aged 6-12; and 50 other camps for 7,000
adolescents aged 12-18 years. Two of those clubs in Tulkarm, in the
northwest of the West Bank, will focus on remedial education to help
students whose schooling has been significantly affected by the Barrier,
UNICEF said. For more information, go to: [http://www.unicef.org]

Pilot project aims to boost food security

On 29 July, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
announced a pilot project to help Palestinian farmers reverse a
three-year-long decline in food security in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
With rising poverty and unemployment, food security has "deteriorated
considerably over the past three years," the agency said.

Agriculture plays a major economic and social role in the occupied
Palestinian territory, and lack of physical access to agricultural lands,
markets and employment is the primary cause of food insecurity, according
to the mid-year review of the UN's inter-agency Consolidated Appeal for
2004. The FAO pilot project, funded by Italy with around $1.5m, is
intended to foster urgently needed agricultural rehabilitation against a
volatile political and economic background.

The project aims to support around 12,000 poor people from 1,500 farming
households in rural areas of Bethlehem, Hebron and Tulkarm in the West
Bank, and in the Gaza Strip, over the next two years. It will be carried
out jointly by FAO and the Ministry of Agriculture.

Project activities will include replanting orchards, replacing
greenhouses, installing irrigation systems and providing pest management
equipment. It is also intended to support livestock production,
rehabilitate rangeland, establish rainwater harvesting systems and provide
training in sustainable natural resource use.

For more details, go to:
[http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/news/2004/48967/index.html]

Monthly Snapshot of Humanitarian Monitoring Issues

Casualties - Between 30 June and 27 July 2004, sixty-five Palestinians
were killed in the occupied Palestinian territory. Another 231 people were
injured. Four Israelis were killed and 56 injured in the same period.

The number of Palestinians killed in July was almost double that in the
period 2-29 June, when 33 people were killed. Another 345 Palestinians
were injured in that period. Seven Israelis were killed and 14 injured
between 2 and 29 June.

The number of both Palestinians and Israelis killed and injured in July
was well down on the toll in May. From 28 April to 1 June, 133
Palestinians were killed and 543 injured. In that time, 19 Israelis were
killed and 21 injured. Three injuries to internationals were also
reported.


Graph: Number of Palestinians and Israelis Killed and Injured in May, June
and July 2004
- - graph not given - -


Incidents involving ambulances/medical teams -- Between 30 June and 27

access, and 14 instances of delays - ranging in length from less than one
hour to five hours. In two cases, humanitarian access delayed or denied
was deemed to be a contributing factor in the deaths of emergency patients
[see separate report]. In another case, a woman in labour was delayed.
There were eight cases where shooting or damage to ambulances were
reported.

Curfews - There were 15 incidents of curfew reported between 30 June and
27 July, ranging in duration from four hours to three and a half days (in
Beit Sira, Ramallah, between 30 June and 4 July). The average duration of
curfews was 20 hours.

Demolitions/people displaced - One hundred and sixty five structures were
demolished between 30 June and 27 July, including at least 130 homes, two
workshops, one cafeteria, a tile factory, 23 stores and an olive press.
Nine structures were damaged to an extent that they were no longer
useable. Another 21 structures were damaged to a lesser degree.

Land reports - At least 1,400 dunums (140 hectares) of land were levelled
between 30 June and 27 July, much of it agricultural. In addition, at
least 870 trees were uprooted or destroyed. These numbers included one
instance where it was reported that more than 1,000 dunums (100 hectares)
of different crops were destroyed in Beit Hanoun, in the Gaza Strip. There
are no exact figures yet available for land levelled in Beit Hanoun since
the start of a major IDF operation at the end of June because the area
remains inaccessible.

Sources: OCHA, FCU, PRCS, UNRWA, IDF, MoFA, Al Mezan Centre for Human
Rights, PCHR

For more information on humanitarian monitoring issues, go to OCHA Updates
at: [http://www.reliefweb.int/hic-opt/]

This update will be produced regularly by OCHA oPt to capture the main
events and trends of humanitarian developments in the territory. OCHA
invites UN agencies, international organisations, NGOs and donors to
submit contributions for future issues.

Arabic and Hebrew versions will be made available on the OCHA website.

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