SITUATION REPORT

Country Program: Jerusalem, West Bank & Gaza

Situation Report: 8

Dates Covered by Report: 21 August – 29 August2014

Type of Event: Military Conflict

1. Context

The resumption of hostilities on August 19th– after 9 days of ceasefire – led to additional deaths, injuries and destruction in both Gaza and Israel. Airstrikes destroyed 6 high-rise buildings in Gaza; two of the buildings were largely residential, displacing approximately 100 families. In addition, all three border crossings into Gaza came under attack during the re-escalation: Rafah terminal along the Egyptian border was damaged by an Israeli airstrike, the pedestrian crossing into Israelat Erez was hit by mortar fire from Gaza, and the Kerem Shalom goods crossing into Israel was targeted by rockets from Gaza.

Despite the increasing intensity of the fighting in the week after the last ceasefire collapsed, an open-ended truce, brokered by Egypt, was announced in the evening of August 26thby Hamas, the Palestinian Authority and Israel. To date, the ceasefire has held.

The terms of the agreement include the cessation of all hostilities, the opening of crossings into Gaza to allow humanitarian aid and reconstruction materials to enter, transfer of border control within Gaza to the Palestinian Authority, a return to the six nautical mile naval blockade, and easing of access restrictions along the land border with Israel. Parties will reconvene in Egypt in one month for indirect negotiations to address the unresolved issues of Gaza’s airport and sea port, the release of Palestinian prisoners, the potential demilitarization of Gaza, and the return of the remains of Israeli soldiers killed in Gaza.

In the days following the ceasefire, the number of internally displaced people dropped dramatically as people were finally able to return home, although the number of IDPs is anticipated to fluctuate in the coming days as families assess the habitability of their homes. It is estimated that 13% of Gaza’s housing has been affected. Repair of electrical lines and water infrastructure begun during the previous ceasefirescontinued. Only limited improvement in the electrical situation has been achieved, with massive blackouts still plaguing residents. Approximately 75% of the water network is functional again, although the entire population of Gaza still has reduced access to water. Finally, thousands of explosive remnants of war are scattered throughout civilian areas, creating an issue of major concern as residents move throughout the Gaza Strip.

2. Safety and Security

All CRS staff members in Gaza and their immediate family members are safe.

The Gaza office closed during the resumption of hostilities but is now open and fully functional.Three international staff returned to Gaza the morning of the ceasefire, and the Gaza PM is once again based full-time in Gaza.

3. CRS Assessment Findings

While the open-ended ceasefire brings a welcome end to the hostilities, the crisis in Gaza is far from over. The full extent of the damage will continue to be revealed as teams are finally able to conduct thorough assessments in the field.

To date:

  • 2,104 Palestinians have been killed(approximately 70% civilians), including 495 children. Additionally,10,224 Palestinians have beeninjured.
  • 65 Israeli soldiers, 4 Israeli civilians and 1 foreign national in Israel have been killed. Many others Israelis have been injured by shrapnel or rockets.
  • 18,000 housing units have been rendered uninhabitable during the conflict. As a result, 108,000 people are expected to have long-term housing needs.
  • Currently, over 52,000 people are still living in 60 UN schools.
  • Residents throughout Gaza face 18-20 hours without electricity each day.
  • Only 10% of the population receives water once a day.
  • 500,000 children are unable to return to primary and secondary schools due to use of schools as shelters, damage to school buildings and/or presence of explosive remnants of war near school property.
  • Hospitals continue to report shortages of fuel and medical supplies.
  • Over 373,000children directly affected by the conflict (through loss of home or family member) are in need of psychosocial support.

4. Programmatic Response and Funding

CRS completed the distribution of 3,000 NFI kits (hygiene, kitchen, and water storage items)with USAID and CRS funds, and 8,000 USAIDhygiene kits to displaced families throughout Gaza. CRS will distribute an additional 3,000 USAID-funded NFI kits in the next 10 days.

Following distribution of $42,500 worth of OFDA in-kind medical supplies to al Ahli Hospital, Caritas Jerusalem clinics, and NECC clinics, CRS procured and distributedan additional $65,000of requested medical supplies and equipment for Al Ahli Hospital and Caritas Jerusalem’s network of clinics in Gaza with funding from USAID.Items included latex gloves, bandages, surgical blades, syringes, and needles. CRS has also provided fuel for generators at local partner medical facilities.

Also with funding from USAID, CRS began procurement of backpacks and school supplies for 10,000 conflict-affected children. With funding from Caritas Germany and CRS private funds, 400 households will receive unconditional vouchers to meet critical food, water and other urgent needs.And with funding from CAFOD and Islamic Relief, CRS will rehabilitate 30 kindergartens through cash-for-work labor. Physical renovations will include painting, tiling, rehabilitation of WASH facilities, and construction of playgrounds and gardens.

Psycho-social support will be mainstreamed into all programmingwherever possible, with CRS staff and partners as initial recipients, followed by services for CRS beneficiaries, including care-givers and children.

CRS is in the process of planning activities for restoration of agricultural livelihoods, most likely through input vouchers and cash-for-work labor for conflict-affected farmers. CRS is also exploring an appropriate shelter intervention to meet the significant housing needs of displaced families.

CRS continues to actively coordinate with other actors through the UN Cluster system, the Coordinating Committee for Catholic Aid Organizations (CCAO), USAID partner meetings, local partner networks, and bilateral relationships.