GAZA UPDATE: Islamic Relief delivered R26million aid thus far...

There is a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and for every day that hostilities continue, the cost for the civilian population inevitably intensifies. Only an immediate cease-fire will be able to address the large-scale humanitarian and protection crisis that faces the people of Gaza. The Israeli military operation has entered its third week, with Israeli planes dropping leaflets on Gaza City on 10 January warning of an escalation.

Israeli air, sea and ground forces continue to surround the populated areas of the Gaza Strip, and the Gaza and North Gaza Governorates remain isolated from the rest of the territory. The humanitarian crisis is intensifying with the Palestinian civilian casualty rate mounting, increasing damage to homes and public infrastructure, and water, sanitation and electricity services imperiled.

Emergency rooms and intensive care units are overstretched and medical staff are exhausted. Of particular concern is the long-term psychological effect of the conflict on children, who make up 56 percent of the Gaza population.


[OCHA, 11 Jan 09]


Recent development

·Death toll has reached 917 including 290 children, 95 women, and 12 medical personnel

·Number of injured people exceeds 4100 including 1400 children, 595 women and 450 considered critically injured.

·The number of displaced people staying with host families remains unknown, but reports indicate that it is likely to number in the tens of thousands. According to the Al Mezan Centre for Human Rights, an estimated 80,000–90,000 people have been displaced, including up to 50,000 children. UNRWA opened four new shelters on 10 January in response to increased demand in Gaza City, Jabalia, and Deir al Balah.

·UNRWA is currently operating 31 shelters providing refuge to 25,696 people, an increase of over 4,000 from 9 January. Shelters in Jabalia are overcrowded, with one school sheltering over 1,700 people and another approximately 1,900. However, new shelters cannot be opened in the area due to insecurity. Drinking water, bread and tinned meat have been provided to all shelters.

·Hospitals remain under intense pressure due to the high number of wounded who continue to be brought in for treatment. According to WHO and ICRC, the main problem currently facing the health sector is access, in terms of the access of staff, procured medicines and equipment to hospitals, and patient referrals out of the Gaza Strip. The Palestinian MoH is providing international donors and humanitarian organizations with detailed lists of needs for medical equipment and supplies to ensure that donations meet actual needs. Since the outbreak of hostilities on 27 December, regular health care has been interrupted.

·The Ministry of Health reports that about 70 percent of chronic patients regularly attending Primary Health Care (PHC) centers have had to interrupt their treatment due to the security situation. According to WHO, all hospitals now have 3-4 hours of electricity per day, and most have sufficient fuel to run back-up generators for five days after having received fuel. The Gaza Paediatric Hospital has only two days of fuel reserves left.

·As of the afternoon of 11 January, ambulances at Kamal Edwan Hospital have run out of fuel. Between 9 and 10 January, the European Gaza Hospital, El Nasser Paediatric Hospital, Sabha Al Harazin and Hala Al Shawa PHC centres sustained damage due to shelling or artillery fire. The Dorah Paediatrics Hospital is closed (except for emergency services) after sustaining damage.

·According to WHO, 189 patients, mostly war injuries but also some chronically ill, have been transferred through Rafah crossing as of 10 January.

·Approximately 500,000 people have no access to running water, 500,000 people receive water for 4-6 hours every 5-7 days and the remaining population receives water for 4-6 hours every 2-3 days.

The following table summarises IRPAL intervention since the beginning g of the crisis:

# Item Qty. amount in USD Status
1 Food for Hospitals $90,466.84 completed
2 Food Package for Gaza and north Gaza 5000 $184,533.16 completed
3 Hygiene Kits for IDPs 1000 $20,068.42 completed
4 Blankets for IDPs 2215 $81,346.05 completed
5 Hygiene Kits for IDPs 1000 $18,855.26 completed
6 medical disposables $120,136.81 completed
7 Medical equipments $398,937.00 completed
8 medical disposables $5,614.40 completed
9 canned food - for IDPs $9,560.53 completed
10 canned food for IDPs $23,368.42 completed
11 canned food for IDPs $20,723.68 completed
12 food package for Khan Younis 1000 $26,315.79 completed
13 Transportation for MoH/to hospitals $2,000.00 completed
14 Renting warehouse for MoH $10,000.00 completed
15 4 Ambulances (inc 1 ICU) $201,454.00 completed
16 48,000 powder milk packs for children 48,000kg $172,817.00 $1,462,833.16
17 Medical disposables $552,873.03 processing
18 Medical drugs $142,521.76 processing
19 Medical Kits $338,237.74 processing
20 Urgent spare parts $480.00 processing
21 food materials from WB 5000 $229,473.68 processing
22 food package for Middle Area 1000 $26,315.79 processing
23 food package for Rafah 1000 $26,315.79 processing

Sources:
-Islamic Relief Palestine Emergency Team
-BBC
-The Jerusalem Post
-World Health Organization (WHO) emergency update
-UN Office for the Cooridination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) emergency update
-The European Union-
MA’AN News Agency