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22/04/2009
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The humanitarian crisis in Gaza

Updated 21 January 2009

Several UNRWA distribution centres were reopened on 2 January. Despite the security situation, thousands of refugees flooded to these centres for badly needed food commodities.

As of 19 January, 1,314 Palestinians had died and 5,300 Palestinians had been injured, and 13 Israelis - nine soldiers and four civilians - had died and 84 Israelis had been injured in the conflict. However, reliable figures are hard to obtain, and the extent of the damage in Gaza will only become clear when security permits a proper assessment.

The conflict has created a humanitarian crisis, exacerbating conditions that had been steadily deteriorating during 18 months of Israeli restrictions on imports into Gaza. The UK government led efforts to achieve the adoption of UN Security Council resolution 1860 on 8 January. The resolution called for an immediate and durable ceasefire, an end to arms trafficking into Gaza, the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, unimpeded provision of humanitarian aid, intra-Palestinian reconciliation and comprehensive peace in the Middle East.

The UK has been at the centre of efforts to halt the violence and secure urgent humanitarian assistance. Yesterday, Secretary of State for International Development Douglas Alexander announced a further pledge of up to £20 million to help meet needs in Gaza, bringing the total UK response to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza to nearly £27 million since the conflict started.

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza will be dire for some time to come. At present:

  • Most Gazans now receive intermittent electricity but power cuts of eight to 14 hours per day continue in many parts.
  • Hospitals are struggling to function under frequent and long power cuts.
  • Al-Quds Palestinian Red Crescent Society Hospital has closed down due to damage from shelling.
  • Around 400,000 people have no access to running water.
  • Sewage has been flooding the streets in several locations.
  • Although security is improving much of the food in warehouses remain inaccessible – most mills and bakeries have stopped working.
  • Around 100,000 people have left their homes, and over 46,000 remain in 50 UN emergency shelters.

During the hostilities, movement within Gaza has been extremely dangerous. The hostilities brought about an almost complete closure of crossings into Gaza, which has made it very difficult for aid staff to operate and for people to access aid and support from distribution centres. As the Secretary of State said yesterday: "We need aid but we also need access because there has been severe constraints on the ability of humanitarian workers and supplies to actually get to the population who need it." The UK will continue to call for and work with others to get full and safe access for humanitarian agencies.

The latest humanitarian information about the crisis is available from external linkReliefweb, administered by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

Images Courtesy of UNRWA

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