GAZA: VIOLENCE CONTINUES; SOME GOODS - BUT NO FUEL

UNCLAS JERUSALEM 002050 SENSITIVE SIPDIS NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE; NEA/IPA FOR GOLDBERGER/LENTZ/HANKINS; NSC FOR PASCUAL; PRM FOR PRM/ANE; PLEASE PASS TO USAID FOR KUNDER/MCCLOUD/BORODIN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON KWBG IS PHUM PTER EAID SUBJECT: GAZA: VIOLENCE CONTINUES; SOME GOODS - BUT NO FUEL - ENTER REF: JERUSALEM 2045 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Gaza's Kerem Shalom crossing was open on November 17 for limited food and humanitarian shipments for the first time since November 4, while Nahal Oz fuel transfer station remains closed. At least 14 rockets have been fired from Gaza November 16-17. The Gaza power plant has been shut down since November 13 due to a lack of fuel. OCHA contacts report that basic food supplies are sufficient for the near future, despite the lack of UNRWA food handouts, though prices are rising. End summary. Limited Amounts of Food and Medicine Allowed through Kerem Shalom; Nahal Oz Fuel Station Closed -------------- -------------- ¶2. (SBU) UN contacts report that 12 truckloads of commercial food and 21 truckloads of WFP, UNRWA, and Red Cross humanitarian shipments entered via Kerem Shalom crossing on November 17. Erez crossing was open for international NGO employees on November 17. The food and humanitarian shipments are the first to enter Gaza since November 4. (Note: Prior to the flare-up of violence, around 75 truckloads/day of commercial food and humanitarian shipments entered Gaza via Kerem Shalom. End note.) Nahal Oz fuel transfer station remains closed and ConGen contacts report that most fuel supplies are nearly diminished. The Gaza power plant has been shut down since November 13 due to a lack of industrial fuel. Blackouts Are Gazans' Most Immediate Concern -------------- ¶3. (SBU) UN OCHA officials in Gaza said on November 17 that electricity blackouts remain the most pressing issue for Gazans, as most homes have running water for just a few hours each day and much food has spoiled due to the lack of refrigeration. Gaza water and sanitation contacts said on November 17 that the pumps of the municipal sewage system are receiving just 8-16 hours/day of electricity from the grid. Emergency generators at those pumps have limited diesel fuel supplies and many are not operational due to a lack replacement parts. The lack of power and spare parts have caused sewage pipes to back-up and around 65,000 cubic meters/day of mostly untreated sewage flow into the sea, according to our contacts. They noted that around 40,000 cubic meters/day of mostly treated sewage flowed into the sea prior to June 2007. OCHA contacts report that basic food supplies are sufficient for the near future, despite the lack of UNRWA food handouts, though prices are rising. Violence continues on November 16-17 -------------- ¶4. (SBU) ConGen contacts confirm press reports that at least 14 rockets were fired toward Israel November 16-17, with at least 10 landing inside Israel. One Israeli was injured in a rocket attack in Sderot on November 16, and an IAF airstrike killed four Popular Resistance Committee militants in Shujai,ya, Gaza City, on November 16, according to press reports. WALLES