MGGZ01 - ISRAELI GAZA INCURSION - DAMAGE TO

UNCLAS JERUSALEM 002748 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE AND NEA/IPA; NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/LOGERFO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM ENRG ECPS EPET KWBG SUBJECT: MGGZ01 - ISRAELI GAZA INCURSION - DAMAGE TO INFRASTRUCTURE REF: JERUSALEM 2680 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: The electricity is out in 75 percent of Gaza, according to USAID Gaza-based field staff. The electricity distribution company began June 28 to rotate the available electricity to different areas in six hour shifts. The electricity shortage is also impacting hospitals, municipal water systems, and sewage and wastewater systems. At least one water pipeline was seriously damaged when Sika Bridge in central Gaza was bombed June 27. Both land-line telephone and cellular providers announced June 28 that they have a five-day supply of fuel to run the two telephone systems using generators. End summary. Electricity -------------- ¶2. (SBU) 75 percent of the Gaza Strip is currently without electricity, including at least two-thirds of Gaza City; the Deir el-Balah areas; Rafah City; and Khan Younis, according to USAID Gaza-based field staff. While some of the outages are due to damage caused by the IDF missile strikes to the six transformers, Khan Younis and Rafah city also have outages, though both of those areas are normally supplied from the Israeli grid. Northern Gaza, including Jabaliya and Beit Hanoun, is reported to have power. Four of the damaged transformers are owned by the Gaza Power Plant (GPP); two by the Palestinian Energy Authority (PEA). The PA-owned and operated Gaza Electrical Company (GEC),the power distribution company, began rotating available power on June 28 (from the Israeli Electricity Company) through its distribution system in order to allow for an average six hours of transmission per day in each area. ¶3. (SBU) Normal electricity consumption in Gaza is approximately 210-220 MW per day. Gaza was importing about 110 MW from the Israeli Electricity Company (IEC) and the balance of the supply came from the Gaza Power Plant. USAID Gaza-based field staff reported that the Gaza power grid could import an additional 40-50 MW from Israel, for a total imported level of 150 to 160 MW per day. Until the transformers are repaired, additional imports could help cover 75-80 percent of daily demand. (Note: Given the short supply of electricity in Israel, it is unclear if the IEC has additional power to provide Gaza. End note.) ¶4. (SBU) Replacement costs for the transformers total USD 2 million per transformer, according to the GPP's Financial and Commercial Manager Hani Aouad. (Note: According to OPIC officers, under a July 2004 policy, OPIC insured the Gaza power plant for up to USD 36.5 million of political violence coverage for loss of assets and up to USD 10.15 million of political violence coverage for loss of business income. The coverage was provided to Morganti Development LLC, a U.S.-owned company that was established to purchase Enron's equity interest in the project. Post is checking with OPIC to determine if this damage is covered. End note.) Water -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Municipal water systems in Gaza require electricity to operate wells and to move water from network lines to roof-top tanks on apartment buildings. The Rafah municipal water supply pumps are currently operating on generators, supplying about 50 percent of normal supply, according to USAID Gaza-based field staff. The Rafah municipality has a six-day supply of fuel. GED's rotation of electricity transmission should provide six hours of power to generators in each area, thereby allowing them to operate for 10 hours. (Note: The generators normally need 10 hours of electricity per day to be fully operational for 24 hours. End note.) ¶6. (SBU) The Palestinian Hydrologist Group (PHG) Project Coordinator in Gaza and USAID field staff both reported that the water pipeline in the middle section of Gaza, under the Sika bridge, sustained serious damage when the bridge was hit June 27. A fifty-meter cast-iron section of the water pipeline was destroyed. The pipeline served as a carrier to three wells in Al-Nuseirat, el-Burej, and Zawaydeh; each well, now inoperable, was providing 70 cubic meters of water for sixteen hours each day. Sewage and wastewater -------------- ¶7. (SBU) Without electricity, the sewage pumping stations and wastewater treatment plants in Gaza are not functioning properly. According to USAID Gaza-based field staff, sewage from Khan Younis had been disposed of on 120 dunams near Sufa, Since the IDF is now occupying this area, the sewage tankers are not able to access the dump site and are dumping their cargo in random spots near residential areas. Likewise, Khan Younis' solid waste is being dumped haphazardly. Healthcare facilities -------------- ¶8. (SBU) The most critical problem facing hospitals is the lack of electricity. According to USAID Gaza-based field staff in Gaza, Dar al-Shifa Hospital is running only on generator power, while al Nasser Pediatric Hospital in Gaza City is using an old, lower capacity generator. According to USAID grantee CARE staff, Al-Amal Hospital in Khan Yunis is running on one generator and has enough fuel for eight days in an emergency climate, but only has a less than one-day capacity water tank. Other hospitals either still have power or are running on generators only. 75 percent of public and private primary healthcare clinics have generators, according to USAID Gaza-based field staff. All UNRWA primary healthcare clinics. Telecommunications -------------- ¶9. (SBU) Another USAID Gaza-based staff member reported that land-line telephone provider Paltel and cellular provider Jawwal announced they had a 5-day supply of fuel to run the two systems using generators, including Gaza's six telephone switches. PalTel, according to local press reports June 29, ordered the reconnection of all telephone lines in Gaza that had been cut for lack of payment. WALLES