MGGZ01 - ISRAELI GAZA INCURSION - HUMANITARIAN

UNCLAS JERUSALEM 002754 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS OPS -- PLEASE PASS TO SECRETARY'S PARTY; NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE AND NEA/IPA; PRM FOR PDAS GREENE AND PRM/ANE; NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/LOGERFO; TREASURY FOR NUGENT/ADKINS; E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM EAID KWBG KPAL SUBJECT: MGGZ01 - ISRAELI GAZA INCURSION - HUMANITARIAN SITUATION ¶1. (SBU) Summary: According to USAID staff in Gaza, there are no reports of critical food shortages, but Gazans are stocking up on food supplies. Hospitals and clinics have emergency supplies for 14 days. All crossings remain closed. Diesel supplies are being quickly depleted, according to a gas station owner. End summary. Food -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Gazans are stocking up on basic commodities, according to USAID Gaza field staff. Prices have risen: a 50 kilogram bag of sugar now sells for NIS 200 (USD 45),up from NIS 155 (USD 35) June 27, and a 50 kilogram bag of wheat flour now sells for NIS 120 (USD 27),up from NIS 80 (USD 18),June 27. The World Food Program (WFP) estimates that Gaza wheat flour mills have a 24-day supply of wheat flour available. According to World Health Organization (WHO) Gaza-based representative Mahmud Daher, Gazan are stocking up on food supplies based on how much they can afford. He had no reports of depleted stocks of basic commodities in stores, but he predicted that fava beans, a high-protein source, would quickly run out due to over-consumption. Daher and USAID Gaza-based field staff both confirmed that perishable items that required refrigeration, like dairy products, are beginning to spoil and supplies are dwindling. According to the WFP, fisherman have not been able to fish since June 26, and small bakeries that depend on electric ovens have had to close. ¶3. (SBU) Daher said that representatives from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA),the World Food Program, and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) met June 28 in Gaza to discuss food supplies. He said representatives from the World Food Program (WFP) and UNRWA concurred that there are no food shortages currently. UNRWA is considering a one-time general food distribution (a one-month basket) to all refugees (roughly two-thirds of the population). WFP head of office Arnold Vercken told EconChief June 27 that WFP had just finished its latest food distribution, so WFP's current non-refugee beneficiaries in Gaza have enough food for up to two months, but WFP is looking to expand its beneficiary list by up to 180,000. (Note: WFP is concerned, however, about losing access to its warehouse, with 900 metric tons of stocks, in the Gaza Industrial Estate adjacent to Karni/al-Mintar, should IDF forces occupy that area. End note.) ¶4. (SBU) Daher said that the UN agencies are trying to predict how many newly-displaced families would need assistance. He had received reports from the southeast of Rafah that an undetermined number of Palestinian families fled prior to the IDF incursion. ICRC said it was preparing Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) kits for these families that contained a small tent, cutlery, small gas burner, blankets, cots, and hygiene supplies. Health -------------- ¶5. (SBU) USAID Gaza-based staff also reported that all public and private hospitals and clinics in Gaza have declared a state of emergency. All public hospitals and primary healthcare clinics have supplies for at least a 14-day emergency; however, there were unconfirmed rumors June 29 of a shortage of medical oxygen at hospitals. The USAID EMAP III project delivered June 27 emergency kits of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies to NGO clinics in three different areas of Gaza: north and south Gaza and Khan Younis. ¶6. (SBU) Acting UNRWA Gaza Field Director told Amman-based REFCOORD June 29 that six senior-level Palestinian UNRWA staff members are stuck on the Egyptian-side of the Rafah crossing and are unable to enter Gaza, including the Field Chiefs of Relief and Health, and the only cardiologist in Gaza. All crossings into Gaza remained closed June 28 and ¶29. Water -------------- ¶7. (SBU) Existing stocks of liquid chlorine used in water treatment are predicted to last about four weeks, USAID Gaza-based field staff reported. 40 cubic meters of chlorine have been allocated to the Palestinian Water Authority (PWA) and an additional 15 cubic meters to hospitals and UNRWA. UNRWA officials told REFCOORD that they have a limited ability to provide diesel for water well pumps. UNRWA's reserve fuel stocks are estimated at 100,000 liters. The governorate of Khan Younis asked UNRWA June 28 for fuel in order to operate its 25 wells, which consume 5,000 liters of fuel daily. Fuel -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Cooking gas is unavailable in Gaza, according to Gaza gas station owner Abu Hisham al-Khozendar. USAID Gaza field staff reported a high level of diesel sales due to increased use of generators. They estimated that supplies would run out in two days, given that people are stocking up. Al-Khozendar told EconSpecialist June 29 that Israeli fuel deliveries to Gaza have ceased at Nahal Oz. According to the Financial and Commercial Manager of the Gaza Power Plant June 29, the plant currently has six million liters of industrial diesel which could be used for large generators. (Note: There are seven main retail fuel stations in Gaza, which sell 80-90 percent of all non-industrial diesel. Normal diesel consumption is 500,000 liters per day and stations have a storage capacity of 5 million liters, a ten-day supply normally. On June 27, these stations were at about half capacity. End Note.) USAID Gaza-based field staff also received reports that companies are removing equipment from gas stations, because they are afraid of damage during Israeli military operations. Generator sales continue to be brisk, according to both al-Khozendar and USAID Gaza-based field staff. WALLES