GAZA CROSSINGS REMAIN CLOSED, HUMANITARIAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 002172

SIPDIS

NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE; NEA/IPA FOR
GOLDBERGER/HOLMSTROM/LENTZ; PRM FOR PRM/ANE; NSC FOR
PASCUAL; PLEASE PASS TO USAID FOR KUNDER/MCCLOUD/BORODIN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/29/2013
TAGS: ECON EAID PHUM KWBG ETRD IS
SUBJECT: GAZA CROSSINGS REMAIN CLOSED, HUMANITARIAN
CONDITIONS DETERIORATE FURTHER

REF: JERUSALEM 2122

Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. Summary: (SBU) The Gaza crossings were closed November
28-December 1. The power plant shut down, for the third time
since November 12, on November 30 due to a lack of industrial
fuel. Gaza markets still have food, but prices are high and
selection is limited, according to UN contacts. Hospitals
are functioning with reduced services, but rely on generators
and diminishing fuel supplies. Water sector contacts
reported that most Gazans receive water from the mains just a
few hours/day and that northern Gaza's wastewater systems
have been shut down since November 28 due to the lack of fuel
and replacement parts. End summary.

Crossings remain closed
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2. (SBU) UN OCHA contacts reported that the Gaza crossings
were closed November 28-December 1, including Kerem Shalom,
Sufa, Karni/al-Mintar, and Nahal Oz fuel transfer station.
The Erez pedestrian gateway was open for medical cases and UN
international employees. UNRWA contacts report that the
Kerem Shalom crossing was open for one truckload of UNRWA
food supplies on November 27, just prior to a mortar attack
that resulted in the crossing's closure. Since November 4,
just 34 truckloads of humanitarian shipments and commercial
food have entered Gaza, according to UN contacts.

Power plant runs out of fuel -
third time in since Nov. 12
--------------


3. (SBU) The Gaza power plant shut down its operations on
November 30 due to a lack of fuel, according to plant
management, for the third time since November 12. Gaza City
residents are hardest hit by the shutdown, as most families
are now limited to 4-8 hours/day of electricity, according to
power plant engineers on December 1.

Outside of Gaza City, food supplies diminishing;
Hospitals rely on generators and limited fuel
--------------


4. (SBU) OCHA and private sector contacts reported on
December 1 that food supply in Gaza City is sufficient for
the coming days. The markets of Jabaliya, Deir al-Balah, and
Khan Younis have fewer food supplies, and residents in those
outlying cities are "feeling the nutrition pinch" more than
those in Gaza City, according to an OCHA contact in Gaza.
Hospitals have sufficient medical supplies and drugs for at
least two weeks and operations are limited, but ongoing,
according to WHO and OCHA contacts. Due to the shortage of
cooking gas and the subsequent closure of numerous bakeries,
most hospital meals come to patients without bread.


Wastewater treatment stopped;
Blair Team focuses on water supply
--------------


5. (C) Water and sanitation sector contacts report that all
northern Gaza sewage treatment operations have been shut down
since November 28 due to a lack of spare parts and fuel.
Those contacts said that 65,000 cubic meters/day of mostly
raw sewage flows into the sea, and Gaza City residents
receive water from the mains just 5-8 hours/day. A senior
World Bank official and Blair Team member noted to Econoff on
December 1 that Gaza's potable water supplies are
increasingly unsanitary, given the current lack of wastewater
treatment in Gaza.

UNRWA food distributions continue;
no cash assistance due to NIS shortage
--------------


6. (SBU) UNRWA contacts report on December 1 that their food
distribution program continues in Gaza, despite diminishing
supplies of wheat flour. UNRWA's cash assistance program for
Gaza families remains suspended due to the lack of shekels in
circulation.

WALLES