GAZA HUMANITARIAN REPORT JANUARY 30

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 000216 SENSITIVE SIPDIS NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE AND NEA/IPA, PRM FOR PRM/ANE; NSC FOR SHAPIRO/PASCUAL; PLEASE PASS TO USAID FOR KUNDER/MCCLOUD/BORODIN/NANDY/LAUDATO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON EAID PHUM KWBG ETRD IS PTER SUBJECT: GAZA HUMANITARIAN REPORT JANUARY 30 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: OCHA reported on January 29 that an average of 80 truckloads per day entered Gaza via Kerem Shalom since the ceasefire. The Gaza water utility cannot make needed repairs on the water and wastewater networks until the GOI allows the entry of essential spare parts. End summary. Crossings -------------- ¶2. (SBU) January 30: Crossings are open, and approximately 80 truckloads are scheduled to move through Kerem Shalom. Nahal Oz fuel transfer station was closed, according to power plant contacts. Karni conveyor belt was open for approximately 50 truckloads of wheat and grains, according to transportation contacts. ¶3. (SBU) January 29: Crossings were partially open. Contacts reported that 75 truckloads passed via Kerem Shalom. A total of 45 truckloads of wheat and grains entered via Karni,s conveyer belt. Nahal Oz fuel station was limited to the transfer of 240,000 liters of industrial fuel for the power plant and 59 tons of cooking gas. ¶4. (SBU) EU contacts reported on January 29 that the GOI has rejected the plan to expand Kerem Shalom,s capacity to 250 truckloads per day because of &security incidents.8 COGAT officials said the maximum number of truckloads will remain ¶150. ¶5. (SBU) ICRC reported on Jan 29 that only 13 of 36 trucks requested in the last week were approved. Of those, only six were eventually allowed into Gaza. ¶6. (SBU) OCHA reported on January 29 that an average of 80 truckloads per day entered Gaza via Kerem Shalom since the ceasefire on January 18. Health -------------- ¶7. (SBU) OCHA reported on January 29 that the decreasing number of patients in Gaza hospitals has allowed for the provision of routine care for chronic illnesses and elective surgery. Hospitals are receiving electricity intermittently and still rely on generators for back-up electricity supply. Much of Gaza,s hospital equipment is dilapidated and in need of repair because of the closure of the Gaza Strip during the past year and a half. Water/Sewage -------------- ¶8. (SBU) The water and sanitation sector group reported on January 29 that there is a real need for the distribution of bottled water in Gaza. Gaza City,s water supply is reportedly contaminated because damage to the sewage treatment plant allowed sewage to infiltrate the water supply. ¶9. (SBU) Approximately 70 percent of Gaza,s water wells are functioning, but certain localities are not receiving water, including 10,000 people in Beit Hanoun. The Gaza City wastewater treatment plant was partially repaired on January 23, halting the leakage of wastewater into surrounding agricultural fields. Following additional repairs, sewage no longer is leaking into the streets of Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahia. ¶10. (SBU) Gaza,s water utility (CMWU) continues to work on urgent maintenance of the water and wastewater networks, though it will be unable to complete repairs without the entry of needed spare parts into Gaza. CMWU currently has a list of prioritized items, such as pipes, generators, and pumps, awaiting clearance by the Israeli authorities for entry into Gaza, according to OCHA. Food -------------- ¶11. (SBU) Shops and markets continue to offer limited food supplies, but prices are reportedly two or three times higher than before the conflict. ¶12. (SBU) On 25 January, UNRWA conducted a first-time food JERUSALEM 00000216 002 OF 002 distribution to nearly 50,000 Palestinian Authority employees who are registered refugees. Fuel/Electricity -------------- ¶13. (SBU) Gaza now receives 202 MW (120 MW from Israel, 65 MW from the Gaza Power Plant, and 17 MW from Egypt). The total current demand is 225-240 MW. The Gaza Power Plant manager reported on January 30 that the plant has only one day of fuel remaining and will have to reduce output from 65 MW to 30 MW until additional fuel arrives. ¶14. (SBU) GEDCO has implemented a power cut schedule: Gaza and North Gaza will face eight-hour power cuts three times per week, and the Middle Area and Khan Yunis will face 6-8 hour power cuts twice per week. ¶15. (SBU) A total of 38 transformers essential for the repair of Gaza,s electricity system are awaiting GOI permission for entry into Gaza, according to OCHA. Shelter -------------- ¶16. (SBU) An OCHA-led preliminary rapid assessment on shelters is almost completed, with data collected on 48 of 69 neighborhoods. International Organizations in Gaza -------------- ¶17. (SBU) OCHA reported on January 28 that 30 international NGO representatives and approximately 22 UN international staff are in Gaza. Currently, there are outstanding requests for more than 200 aid workers to enter Gaza. Cash/Liquidity -------------- ¶18. (SBU) The GOI agreed on January 30 to allow banks in Gaza to exchange NIS 10 million (USD 2.5 million) of old, unusable currency for new notes, according to the Palestine Monetary Authority. However, this does not change the overall liquidity situation of the banks in Gaza. WALLES