{"id":209549,"date":"2007-09-21T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-03-12T19:46:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/?p=209549"},"modified":"2019-03-12T19:46:54","modified_gmt":"2019-03-12T19:46:54","slug":"auto-insert-209549","status":"publish","type":"document","link":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/document\/auto-insert-209549\/","title":{"rendered":"Humanitarian situation in OPT – ICRC bulletin\/Non-UN document"},"content":{"rendered":"
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21-09-2007  ICRC News 07\/26  <\/p><\/div>\n

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Gaza and West Bank – ICRC Bulletin No. 26\/2007<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

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Latest report on ICRC activities in the field<\/p><\/div>\n

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Critical humanitarian situation in Gaza<\/strong><\/p>\n

"After three month of almost complete closure, the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip is critical,” says Angelo Gnaedinger, Director General of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) after his recent visit to the Gaza Strip. The current situation has had a serious impact on the water and sewerage systems, on hospitals and on the economic situation of Gaza's inhabitants.
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\nWater and sewerage<\/strong>
\nSince mid-2006, military incursions, political instability, import restrictions, extensive damage to Gaza power station, interruptions to fuel supplies and delayed payments have been impairing the operation and maintenance of Gaza's water and sewerage facilities.<\/p>\n

"For instance, we carried out emergency repairs at the Beit Lahia wast water reservoir after it burst earlier this year killing five people and destroying 250 houses. We just about managed to address the immediate problem but have not been able to do anything else since,” explained Mr Gnaedinger. When it rains, and that could be soon, we risk facing an even worse situation". There is a similar risk at the Khan Yunis waste water reservoir.
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\nHospitals<\/strong>
\nA recent ICRC assessment of nine hospitals in the Gaza Strip concluded that the hospital infrastructure is deteriorating rapidly. Many facilities, diagnostic machines and other equipment are either out of order or in bad condition, as it is no longer possible to maintain them properly. Spare parts are not available on the local market and import restrictions make it impossible for hospitals to use their regular suppliers.<\/p>\n

Despite efforts to get humanitarian supplies into the Gaza Strip, the ICRC remains concerned about the situation. The spare parts and other supplies currently being imported are not sufficient to maintain the infrastructure needed to provide essential medical services for a population of 1.4 million people.
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\nFewer patients transferred out of Gaza<\/strong>
\nThe ICRC is concerned about the recent fall in the number of patients allowed into Israel, Jerusalem and the West Bank for medical treatment. Previously, between 30 and 40 patients per day were allowed to leave Gaza for medical treatment not available in the Strip, but in recent days the transfer of patients has slowed to a trickle.
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\nContinuing economic decline<\/strong>
\nAs a result of the almost complete closure imposed on the Gaza Strip, imports remain extremely limited, while nothing at all can be exported. Most industrial and other businesses have had to close down, further increasing the unemployment rate. This is hitting the economic situation of many families very hard. The agricultural sector is particularly affected by the closure, as most produce is grown for export.
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\nICRC response to urgent needs in Gaza<\/strong>
\nSince the beginning of June, the ICRC: <\/p><\/div>\n