GAZA HUMANITARIAN UPDATE - JANUARY 8

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 000079 SIPDIS SENSITIVE S/ES-O PASS TO S TRAVELING PARTY NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE AND NEA/IPA, PRM FOR PRM/ANE; NSC FOR PASCUAL/PRATT; PASS TO USAID FOR KUNDER/MCCLOUD/BORODIN/NANDY/LAUDATO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON EAID PHUM KWBG ETRD IS SUBJECT: GAZA HUMANITARIAN UPDATE - JANUARY 8 ¶1. (SBU) Summary. Kerem Shalom crossing and Nahal Oz fuel transfer station were open to shipments on January 8. Attempts to use Erez for shipments were unsuccessful due to the deaths of Palestinian workers from IDF fire. UNRWA and the ICRC have announced that they are suspending operations due to multiple incidents involving IDF attacks on convoys, including during the three-hour "pause". Electrical supply remains limited due to damage to the grid, though some feeder lines have been repaired. UNRWA reports that at least 750,000 Gazans are without running water. End Summary. January 8: Crossings open to limited shipments -------------- - ¶2. (SBU) According to UN contacts, as of 1700 local, an estimated 40-50 truckloads (33 for UN agencies and the rest for the private sector) entered via Kerem Shalom; approximately ten entered via Rafah on January 8. PA Fuel Agency and EU contacts reported that 400,000 liters of power plant fuel and 200 tons of cooking gas were transferred through Nahal Oz pipelines on January 8. ¶3. (SBU) Plans to bring shipments in via Erez crossing on January 8 were suspended after IDF tank fire killed two forklift operators on the Palestinian side of the crossing. ConGen contacts reported that a number of dual nationals evacuated via Erez on January 8, but we do not have confirmed numbers or nationalities. ¶4. (SBU) UN contacts confirm final crossings numbers for January 7: 65 truckloads via Kerem Shalom, including 30 for aid agencies; seven truckloads of medical supplies, three ambulances, and 29 medical evacuees via Rafah; 362,000 liters of power plant fuel, 92,000 liters of diesel for UNRWA, and 43 tons of cooking gas via Nahal OZ. According to UNRWA, an additional 135,000 liters of power plant fuel were transferred back-to-back at Kerem Shalom and transported to the Gaza power plant. Aid Agencies Suspending Operations -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Movement within Gaza remained difficult and dangerous, even during the second "humanitarian pause." UNRWA and ICRC contacted RefCoord on January 8 to report they are suspending operations in Gaza after several incidents today, including the one at Erez mentioned above. The other incidents were: - During the 3-hour "pause", an UNRWA convoy of three armored vehicles and one ambulance was fired on by the IDF. No injuries reported. - An ICRC truck was fired on; five rounds went through the windshield. ¶6. (SBU) ICRC and UNRWA reported that they feel strongly that the "pattern and failure of coordination with the IDF" over the past 72 hours, resulting in the death of transport workers and paramedics, "must be corrected" before they can restart operations. Water/Shelter -------------- ¶7. (SBU) UNRWA reports on January 8 that at least 750,000 people do not have access to running water. UNRWA reports that roughly 20,000 people are now sheltered in 27 UNRWA facilities. UNRWA distributed food and water trucks to all 27 of its emergency shelter locations, but the agency reports there is still a severe shortage of blankets and mattresses. ¶8. (SBU) UNRWA is providing flour and cooking gas to a commercial bakery to bake roughly 120,000 pieces of pita per day for the 20,000 people in UNRWA shelters. UNRWA reports that flour is generally unavailable in the market. WFP reports that it has delivered food to roughly 50,000 out of 235,000 beneficiaries since 27 December. Electricity/Fuel -------------- ¶9. (SBU) The Gaza Power Plant now has approximately three days worth of fuel. However, PA Gaza Fuel Agency Director Amir Bashir said that high-voltage transmission lines from the plant were downed in recent days. Technicians from the Gaza Electricity Distribution Company (GEDCO) are working to access those lines. According to EU contacts, until the lines are repaired, no power can reach the grid. ¶10. (SBU) According to UN reports, GEDCO repaired a number of downed Israeli feeder lines in recent days. Nine of the ten feeder JERUSALEM 00000079 002 OF 002 lines are functioning. Nevertheless, Gaza City's two main electricity distribution transformers were destroyed December 29-31, disabling most of Gaza City's power distribution, according to PalTel and EU contacts. ¶11. (SBU) The UN reports that there is "extensive" damage to the electricity network. GEDCO reports that it needs 20 transformers, 10km of cable, and at least 100 low-voltage disconnectors. USAID Gaza staff and the UN report that many families are without cooking gas. USAID Gaza staff report that 100 tons of cooking gas remains uncollected on the Palestinian side of Nahal Oz, due to security concerns. WALLES