User:Okashu/Humanitarian crisis

Humanitarian crisis in Gaza
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs states that the Gaza strip humanitarian crisis is significant and can not be understated. The UN states that the situation is a "18 month long human dignity crisis" in the Gaza strip, entailing "a massive destruction of livelihoods and a significant deterioration of infrastructure and basic services". Fear and panic are widespread; 80 percent of the population can not support themselves and are dependent on humanitarian assistance. A psychiatrist, who is the head of Gaza's mental health program, has estimated that nearly half of the population will suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder.

Israel's foreign minister Tzipi Livni has stated that there's no humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and that the humanitarian situation in Gaza is "completely as it should be". The head of the Arab League, Amr Moussa, has criticised Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni for declaring that there's no humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. He also criticised the Security Council for not responding faster to the crisis. The International Red Cross said the situation was "intolerable" and a "full blown humanitarian crisis."

Shelter
The "entire civilian population" in the Gaza strip remains vulnerable. There is a sense of "panic, fear and distress" throughout the whole strip. Civilians have implemented a self-imposed curfew since no public warning systems or effective shelters exist. People have been evacuating their homes and staying in streets for long hours exposed to further danger, or staying with relatives. Civilians face insecurities while re-stocking basic food items, water and cooking gas. Most families are holed up in one or two rooms that are considered the safest in the home, without electricity and with barely running water. Children have no outlets and entire families are moving to safer places at night.

The Palestinian Red Cross estimates that thousands of homes have been damaged and it became "increasingly difficult" for their residents to stay in them due to the cold weather. The UNRWA has prepared its schools to act as temporary shelters for displaced persons. As of January 1st, approximately 400 people spend the night under the UNRWA emergency shelters. As reported by both the Save the Children Alliance and the Al Mezan Center, prior to the IDF ground operation, more than 13,000 people (2000 families) have been displaced in the strip. The majority of those families seek shelter with relatives, while 1,200 people are staying on the temporary emergency shelters provided by the UNRWA. As of the tenth day of war, 5,000 persons are displaced and currently staying on the UNRWA shelters. The numbers are quickly increasing and the UNRWA stocks are quickly running out.

Fuel and electricity
The only power plant in Gaza is not operational due to the lack of industrial fuel and spare parts. As of January 1st, power outages last 16 hours per day. Due to localized damage following the airstrikes, some electrical lines has been cut causing some areas to suffer from power cuts lasting 24 hours. In addition, due to the damages caused by the air strikes to 15 electrical transformers, as much as 250,000 people in central and northern Gaza have no electricity supply during the entire day and night. As of the first of January, a 5MW line from Egypt to Rafah was damaged, extending the power cuts also to Rafah, which has usually continuous supply. Fuel for heating and cooking are no longer available and most of the 240 gas stations in Gaza City have closed.

As of January the fourth, there's almost total blackout in Gaza City, North Gaza, Middle Area and Khan Yunis. Most (90%) of the telephone network, including both cellular service and land lines are down since it depends on backup generators with dwindling fuel stocks. Since the Israeli ground operation, 75% of Gaza's electricity has been cut off and the Palestinians technicians face difficulties to reach damaged lines because of the military attacks.

Water
Since 5 November, there has been a shortage of chlorine for water treatment due to Israeli blockades, increasing the risk of outbreak of water diseases. On 27 December, Israeli airstrikes extensively damaged two water wells, rendering a population of 30,000 Palestinians without water. Since Wednesday 31 December, sewage and water systems in Beit Hanoun were hit at five locations causing considerable damage to the main sewage pipeline leading to sewage water pouring into the streets. On 2 January, airstrikes in the Al Mughraga area damaged a main drinking water pipe, cutting off water supplies to 30,000 people in Nuseirat Camp. The UN sums the situation that as of 2 January, 250,000 people in Gaza City and northern Gaza are without water supply; seven water wells were seriously damaged and cannot be repaired due to bombardments.

As of the fourth of January, and as reported by the Palestinian Coastal Municipality Water Utility (CMWU) throughout the UN reports, 70% of the Gaza strip 1.5 million population have no access to water. The CMWU also fears that continued shelling near the Beit Lahiya sewage lagoon will cause a massive sewage overflow. In addition to agricultural areas, up to 15,000 people are directly at risk.

Health
Weakened by the eighteen-month Blockade of the Gaza Strip, as of 31 December the central drug store reported that 105 drugs and 255 medical supplies of the essential drug and supplies list are still unavailable, and approximately 20 percent of the ambulances were grounded due to lack of spare parts. Ambulances are experiencing difficulties in reaching the injured because of continuous fire. Hospitals also suffer a "severe" shortage of cooking gas, which is expected to be totally depleted in the coming days. Due to this shortage, the WFP distributed canned meat and high energy biscuits. As a result of shortages, dozens of Gaza Arabs are being treated in Ashkelon's Barzilai Hospital, while others are crossing into Egypt from Gaza for treatment. According to the World Health Organisation, there are at least 1,000 medical machines out of order. As of the eighth day of war, this shortage of equipment and spare parts was still a "main challenge" but the Ministry of Health stated that "while conditions at hospitals are extremely precarious, the situation has stabilised, following the large volume of medical supplies received".

As of the fourth of January, all of Gaza City hospitals have been without main electricity for 48 consecutive hours, depending entirely on back-up generators. The hospitals warn that the generators are close to collapse. On the fourth of January, UNRWA had to close four out of its eighteen health centers because of hostilities in the vicinity, with one more center closed by the next day. For the second consecutive day, Israeli authorities have refused to allow an International Committee of the Red Cross emergency medical team into Gaza to help the staff of Shifa hospital. On the fifth of January, generators at the Ministry of Health ambulance stations, vaccine stores, labs and warehouses shut down due to the lack of fuel, till the UNRWA delivered some short term fuel. Humanitarian organizations are receiving urgent requests for strong pain killers, body gas, bed sheets for wrapping the dead, and an urgent need for neuro-, vascular-, orthopedic- and open heart surgeons. Collateral damage to hospitals, broken windows as an example, are not being repaired. The Palestinian Red Cross has been unable to respond to many calls due to the military operations.

Cash
The Israeli shekel is a widely used currency in the Gaza Strip, and the territory needs at least 400 million shekels, or about $100 million each month in new currency to replace aging notes and to pay salaries. Since 24 December, the ban on the entry of banknotes into Gaza has hampered several humanitarian programs run by the UNRWA, the largest humanitarian assistance provider in the Gaza Strip. As of 5 January, the tenth day of the attacks, cash has still not entered the Gaza Strip and is urgently needed, including for the UNRWA cash distribution program to some 94,000 dependent beneficiaries, as well as for its "cash for work" program.