Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06JERUSALEM2748
2006-06-29 13:40:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Consulate Jerusalem
Cable title:  

MGGZ01 - ISRAELI GAZA INCURSION - DAMAGE TO

Tags:  PHUM ENRG ECPS EPET KWBG 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0007
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHJM #2748/01 1801340
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 291340Z JUN 06
FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3140
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC PRIORITY
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

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