GAZA HUMANITARIAN UPDATE -- JANUARY 2

UNCLAS JERUSALEM 000016 SIPDIS SENSITIVE NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE AND NEA/IPA, PRM FOR PRM/ANE; NSC FOR PASCUAL/PRATT; PLEASE PASS TO USAID FOR KUNDER/MCCLOUD/BORODIN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON EAID PHUM KWBG ETRD IS SUBJECT: GAZA HUMANITARIAN UPDATE -- JANUARY 2 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: OCHA estimates that a maximum of 70 truckloads of supplies would enter Gaza via Kerem Shalom on January 2. Karni and Nahal Oz crossings remained closed, and the GOI did not permit entry of diesel through Kerem Shalom. Gaza City has been entirely without running water for three days, and contacts estimate hundreds of thousands of people are without clean water, electricity or heat. End Summary. Crossings -------------- ¶2. (SBU) OCHA contacts report that approximately 70 truckloads are expected to enter Gaza through Kerem Shalom. UNRWA reports 57 trucks entered Kerem Shalom on January 1, including 30 for aid organizations. A small number of patients and hundreds of foreign passport holders including 16 American citizens and 11 of their non-Amcit family members were evacuated through Erez January 2. Approximately 30 wounded were evacuated through Rafah on January 1, and two truckloads of medical supplies entered Rafah on January 2. Karni and Nahal Oz crossings remained closed. Critical Fuel and Water Shortages: -------------- ¶3. (SBU) UNRWA reports that COGAT refused entry of five tankers of industrial diesel (237,000 liters) through Kerem Shalom for the Gaza power plant. UNRWA expects Kerem Shalom will remain closed for Shabbat, and that Sunday is the next opportunity for the entry of diesel, leaving hundreds of thousands of people without electricity, water, or heat. Gaza City has been entirely without running water for three days, and cooking gas is still urgently needed, according to local contacts. 4.(SBU) Telecom company Paltel warned ConGenOffs that if it cannot move fuel from its reserves in Gaza to its generators, 80,000 phone lines and the use of emergency numbers will shut down in 48 hours. Paltel's reserve stations are located near potential targets, including a police station and the Hamas "Ministry of Telecommunications." (Note: three Paltel employees were killed in an IDF strike while at work December 27. End note.) Paltel asked ICRC for urgent assistance in coordinating movement of its fuel truck with the IDF. Separately, the CEO of Jawwal cellular told Econ Specialist that only 40 of 100 cell phone stations in Gaza are currently operational due to electricity shortages. Food -------------- ¶5. (SBU) WFP delivered food assistance to 35,000 people on January 1 and provided 5,500 patients in hospitals with biscuits and canned meat, and 15,000 people in Beit Hanoun with bread. UNRWA distributed food assistance to 7,200 people on January 1, and a similar number on January 2. Both UNRWA and WFP are coordinating locations and timing for distributions with COGAT. According to the Gaza Federation of Industries, the average wait-time in bread lines is three hours. Medical Update -------------- ¶6. (SBU) OCHA reports that at least 1,200 wounded remained hospitalized as of January 1. Gaza hospitals remain overwhelmed and are discharging patients as soon as possible to free beds for new casualties. A USG panel physician in Gaza City reports that the quantity of traumatic emergencies in hospitals has limited the resources available for treating chronic diseases and non-traumatic emergencies such as heart attacks. OCHA reports that the supply of medicine has been somewhat stabilized, but the shortage of medical equipment and spare parts remains a major challenge. WALLES