GAZA: FOOD AND FUEL UPDATE, APRIL 22

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 000702 SIPDIS SIPDIS NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE; NEA/IPA FOR GOLDBERGER/SHAMPAINE/SACHAR; PRM FOR PRM/ANE; NSC FOR ABRAMS/PASCUAL; TREASURY FOR CONNOLLY; PLEASE PASS TO USAID FOR KUNDER/MCCLOUD/BORODIN E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/22/2013 TAGS: ECON KWBG PHUM PTER KPAL ETRD IS SUBJECT: GAZA: FOOD AND FUEL UPDATE, APRIL 22 REF: JERUSALEM 682 Classified By: Acting Principal Officer, Tom Duffy, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary: Gaza-based contacts report that Sufa crossing was open on April 22, while Kerem Shalom crossing and Nahal Oz fuel station remain closed due to the recent terror attacks. Gaza power plant managers reported that they may be forced to stop operations on April 23 if no additional fuel is delivered. WHO reports that the number of patients obtaining outpatient medical care in Gaza was reduced in recent weeks due to limited availability of transportation. End summary. Sufa Open; Kerem Shalom and Nahal Oz Closed -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Gaza-based OCHA contacts said that Sufa crossing was open on April 22 to an estimated 30 truckloads of humanitarian and commercial food shipments, while the Kerem Shalom crossing has been closed since April 17. Nahal Oz fuel transfer station also was closed on April 22. Nahal Oz was last open to diesel and gasoline shipments on April 9 and to industrial fuel and cooking gas shipments on April 16. Power Plant Operation May Stop 4/23 Due To A Lack Of Fuel -------------- ¶3. (C) Gaza Power Plant manager Rafiq Maliha told Econoff on April 22 that he will be forced to stop plant operations by the evening of April 23 due to a lack of industrial fuel. He said the plant has been producing just 40 MW of electricity - below the average of 55 MW - over the last few days in an effort to extend output. At 40 MW output, the plant burns 280,000 liters of industrial fuel each 24 hours, according to Maliha. In addition to power from the plant, Gaza receives 17 MW from Egypt and 115 MW from Israel. ¶4. (C) Maliha noted that a 10-person team of Siemens engineers arrived at the plant on April 22 to conduct tests of the turbines and to replace parts. The engineering team plans to remain in Gaza for a six-week plant maintenance project. Fuel Cuts Limit Health Care Services -------------- ¶5. (C) WHO Gaza Director Mahmoud Daher told Econoff on April 22 that the lack of fuel for transportation resulted in a 30 percent drop in the average number of Gazans receiving outpatient services since March. He said that Gaza hospitals have around 60,000 liters of diesel fuel remaining for their backup generators. Daher said that 95 percent of Gaza MOH ambulances are still serving the public in emergency situations, but that no more fuel is available to them at the PA gas stations. (Note: Roughly 900,000 liters of diesel and 180,000 liters of gasoline are stored on the Gaza side of Nahal Oz, but are not being distributed due to the Gaza Fuel Distributors Union strike. End note.) DUFFY