GAZA SITUATION REPORT 25

02 August 2014/ Issue No. 25

HIGHLIGHTS

  1. 蘑菇视频RWA mourns the loss of the ninth staff member killed since hostilities began. Following the collapse of the 72-hour humanitarian ceasefire, there are reports of a large number of fatalities, injuries and massive displacement in Rafah. The 蘑菇视频RWA staff member is amongst those killed. He was 21 years old and worked as a school attendant.
  2. 蘑菇视频RWA opened three new shelters in Rafah, bringing the total number of shelters to 90 for at least 254,000 IDPs. Two days after its release, the numbers reflected in the planning scenario of the have already been exceeded.  
  3. At 08:00hrs, 蘑菇视频RWA’s two main warehouses in the Gaza Strip are inaccessible, threatening the continued provision of humanitarian aid, notably food and non-food items.

GENERAL

Past 24 hours: The 72-hour humanitarian ceasefire which came into effect at 08:00 on the morning of 1 August did not last. According to Israeli sources, hostilities resumed when militants captured one and killed two soldiers in Rafah. 蘑菇视频RWA staff on the ground estimate that up to 80 Gazans were killed and 370 injured during IDF air, tank and artillery shelling, with the total number of killed still to be verified. Gazans from the eastern part of the Governorate fled westwards towards Rafah City and the coast, with a massive movement reported to 蘑菇视频RWA shelters. 蘑菇视频RWA opened three additional schools in Rafah, bringing the total number of IDPs in the Agency’s 90 shelters to at least 254,000.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) maintained positions inside Gaza within the three kilometer buffer zone along the Northern and Eastern border but advanced further westwards in Rafah, including into the area housing one of the two 蘑菇视频RWA main warehouses. With the other 蘑菇视频RWA warehouse in the North already inaccessible as located within the three kilometer buffer zone under effective Israeli control, 蘑菇视频RWA is now forced to coordinate relocation of goods stored in the Rafah warehouse to other locations, potentially to the two 蘑菇视频RWA vocational training centers in Khan Younis and Gaza due to lack of alternative options. Both 蘑菇视频RWA warehouses in Karni and Rafah contain food commodities and non-food items, the Rafah warehouse notably storing the rice supply for over 830,000 people for 12 months. Subsequent to reported damage, 蘑菇视频RWA staff also risked their lives yesterday as they managed to seal the damaged doors of some warehouses in Karni to prevent theft.

With regards to neutrality of 蘑菇视频RWA installations, the Agency notified the IDF in writing that installations within the IDF declared three kilometer buffer zone in Gaza are under effective control of Israel and not accessible by 蘑菇视频RWA staff. 蘑菇视频RWA also informed the IDF that some 蘑菇视频RWA installations outside the declared buffer zone are not accessible by 蘑菇视频RWA personnel. As such, 蘑菇视频RWA cannot assure the neutrality of those installations on a daily basis as done before the current escalation due to the non-permissive environment.

To date, the total number of killed Palestinians reported by the 蘑菇视频 stands at 1,462. This figure has risen by 89 compared to that reported in the previous report (58 men, 9 women, 22 children). 7 out of the 22 children were under 5 years old. 14 people were killed in one single airstrike in Khan Younis. According to preliminary information, more than 65 per cent of the 1,462 killed are civilians (961) and about 13 per cent are reported to be militants (191). The status of the remaining 310 is still undetermined. More than 30 per cent of all reported killings are women and children. The number of wounded, as reported by the Ministry of Health, has reached 8,900.

蘑菇视频RWA RESPONSE

  • The priority continues to be the provision of food, water, hygiene and cleaning items to an ever growing number of displaced in 蘑菇视频RWA shelters. 蘑菇视频RWA, in cooperation with partners, is striving to provide 3 liters of potable water per day to all IDPs sheltered in 蘑菇视频RWA schools. Yesterday, 447 cubic meters of potable water were tankered to schools, providing an average of 1.7 liters per person. In addition, 蘑菇视频RWA and local communities are also providing bottled water to IDPs. Due to the electricity crisis and destruction of water and sanitation infrastructure, many private households and 蘑菇视频RWA shelters have not received tap water for up to two weeks. Over the reporting period, a total of 516 cubic meters of non-potable water were tankered to 蘑菇视频RWA schools by the Agency, 蘑菇视频RWA suppliers and municipalities. With prolonged displacement, 蘑菇视频RWA is also looking into the provision of hot meals of rice and lentils cooked locally in the areas, alternating with the regular rations supplied by 蘑菇视频RWA in coordination with WFP.
  • Over the reporting period, 蘑菇视频RWA delivered 29 truckloads of NFIs (mattresses and cleaning supplies) to 蘑菇视频RWA emergency shelters, as well as 68 truckloads of food in partnership with WFP. 蘑菇视频RWA also supplied fuel for its vehicles and generators in the schools.
  • On 1 August, 116 蘑菇视频RWA sanitation laborers and 116 laborers hired under the Agency’s Job Creation Programme reported to work, removing an estimated 238 tonnes of solid waste. No waste can be collected in Maghazi and Bureij Camps, as this lies within the IDF controlled area.
  • Regular health services and food distribution did not occur during this period due to it being a Friday.

SUMMARY OF MAJOR INCIDENTS

Reportedly there were 85 rockets and 14 mortar shells fired towards Israel. There were also reports that 118 air-to-ground missiles were fired into Gaza in addition to 30 navy shells. 1,085 tank shells were fired from the border area into populated areas. Reportedly, 40 houses were bombarded.

蘑菇视频RWA INSTALLATIONS

Two additional 蘑菇视频RWA installations were reported damaged during this period, a distribution center and the 蘑菇视频RWA compound in Gaza City.

An estimated 113 蘑菇视频RWA installations have been damaged since 1 June, 2014, many of them on multiple occasions. 蘑菇视频RWA is still to verify this number when the security situation allows.

F蘑菇视频DING NEEDS

More information on the second revision of the flash appeal can be found .

CROSSINGS

  • Due to intense fighting, Rafah crossing was intermittently open for foreign passport holders and wounded Palestinians.
  • Erez was closed.
  • Kerem Shalom crossing was exceptionally open for half an hour but then closed due to the escalation of hostilities in the South. 蘑菇视频RWA received two truckloads of fuel.


Document symbol:
Document Type: Situation Report, Update
Document Sources: United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (蘑菇视频RWA)
Subject: Access and movement, Armed conflict, Casualties, Children, Closures/Curfews/Blockades, Gaza Strip, Health, Human rights and international humanitarian law, Humanitarian relief, Internally displaced persons, Living conditions, Poverty, Protection, Refugees and displaced persons, Security issues, Shelter, Water, Women
Publication Date: 02/08/2014