GAZA: FOOD AND HUMANITARIAN SHIPMENTS CONTINUE,

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 000614 SIPDIS SIPDIS NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE; NEA/IPA FOR GOLDBERGER/SHAMPAINE/SACHAR; PRM FOR PRM/ANE; NSC FOR PASCUAL; TREASURY FOR CONNOLLY; PLEASE PASS TO USAID FOR KUNDER/MCCLOUD/BORODIN E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/01/16 TAGS: ECON EAGR KWBG PHUM IS SUBJECT: GAZA: FOOD AND HUMANITARIAN SHIPMENTS CONTINUE, FUEL DISTRIBUTION UNION DECLARES STRIKE REF: JERUSALEM 558 Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Four hundred truckloads/week of basic food stuffs and humanitarian shipments entered Gaza through Kerem Shalom and Sufa crossings since March 28. Gazans receive around eight hours of running water and 18 hours of electricity each day, while health care professionals continue to complain about dilapidated infrastructure and equipment. The Gaza Fuel Distribution Union declared a strike on April 7 to protest the severe restrictions on petroleum imports. End summary. Crossing Open Only For Food Stuffs and Humanitarian Shipments -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Gaza based OCHA contacts told Econoff on April 8 that roughly 400 truckloads/week of basic food stuffs and humanitarian products have entered Gaza through Kerem Shalom and Sufa crossings since March 24 (ref). Those OCHA contacts confirmed that commercial shipments allowed to enter Gaza contain only the most basic food stuffs. Fuel Distributors Go On Strike - Won't Participate In Gaza's "Silent Death" -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Vice Chairman of the Gaza Fuel Distribution Union Mahmoud Khozendar told Econoff on April 7 that his union's membership, in protest of the restricted fuel import levels, declared a strike and stopped receiving gasoline and diesel fuel shipments at the Nahal Oz fuel transport station. He said that the union made the decision in concert with private sector representatives, who agreed that current levels of fuel shipments are "slowly, quietly squeezing to death Gaza and its people." Khozandar said that disbursing gasoline and diesel to Gaza's impoverished people has become increasingly dangerous, as union employees and executives are threatened by clans and individuals to secure scarce fuel supplies. ¶4. (C) Khozendar argued that the slow deterioration of Gaza is the fault of "short-sighted" Israeli policies, not his union's rejection of fuel "drops." He said the union will re-start deliveries of gasoline and diesel when shipments from the Israeli side meet "much more than 20 percent" of demand. He noted that cooking gas and industrial fuel shipments for the power plant would not be interrupted by this strike. Limited Electricity and Water Flowing; Health Care Continues Due to Dedicated Staff -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Gaza Coastal Municipalities Water Authority engineer Monther Shoblack told Econoff on April 8 that Gaza households have around eight hours a day of running water from the main water lines. He confirmed that 40,000 cubic meters/day of mostly untreated sewage flows into the sea due to a lack of fuel for three main pumps. ¶6. (C) Gaza Power Plant project manager Rafiq Maliha said on April 8 that the plant continues to produce an average of 55 MW, and that most Gazans are without electricity for six hours each day. Maliha said that the GOI granted him approval for the entry into Gaza of USD five million in parts for plant maintenance (ref). The parts are scheduled to enter on April 9, while the crew of ten Siemens Corp. engineers expects to enter Gaza on April 17. ¶7. (C) Gaza-based WHO head Mahmoud Daher said that Gaza hospitals received shipments of pharmaceutical drugs this week. As a result, only 55 of Gaza's 480 essential drugs are out of stock - down from the 85 drugs out of stock in March. He said that hospital infrastructure is dilapidated due to the lack of cement and construction materials, while equipment is rundown due to the lack of spare parts. Daher said health care continues due to international support and dedicated local staff. He added that most hospitals have a week-long supply of fuel for their generators. WALLES