22 may 2015
By: IRIN
Gulf Arab states and Turkey have spectacularly failed to fulfill their pledges to Gaza, contributing to a two-thirds shortfall in promised assistance to the beleaguered enclave, a new report reveals.
Qatar has delivered just 10 percent of the $1 billion it promised, while Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Kuwait between them have handed over just over $50 million of the $900 million they pledged, according to a World Bank report seen by IRIN ahead of its release.
Last summer's war between Israel, Hamas and other Islamist militants killed more than 2,000 Palestinians – mostly civilians – and left more than 100,000 homeless by the time of an August ceasefire.
Despite concerns about political instability and the possibility of renewed conflict, the international community came out in force at an October conference in Cairo, promising $3.5 billion to help Gaza rebuild. The release of the World Bank’s numbers comes a month after UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestine refugees, said that not a single one of the more than 5,000 completely destroyed homes in Gaza had been rebuilt.
Big donors come up short
Although $5.4 billion was widely vaunted as the takeaway figure from the Cairo conference, only $3.5 billion of it was actually allocated to Gaza. As of late April, donors had given only 27.5 percent of the promised $3.5 billion, or $967 million. However, only 35 percent of the aid pledged - or $1.2 billion - was actually fresh, with the majority coming from reallocated donations and emergency funding delivered as the bombs were still falling.
Of this new aid, just 13.5 percent - or $165 million - has come through. Qatar pledged $1 billion for Gaza and has delivered 10 percent; Saudi Arabia has given only 10 percent of its promised $500 million. Turkey and Kuwait both pledged $200 million: the former has produced only $520,000, and the latter none.
Other top pledges included the United Arab Emirates’ $200 million, which the World Bank said no data was available for, the United States' $277 million pledge, which is 84 percent delivered, and the European Union's $348 million, with a 40 percent delivery rate.
Gulf states have become increasingly important donors in recent years, providing hundreds of millions of dollars to emergencies across the globe. Last year, Saudi Arabia pledged $500 million to Iraq, while it recently announced it would fill the entirety of a $274 million appeal for Yemen.
Yet they have also been known to work outside the traditional humanitarian system, while there have been complaints of late payments (although Kuwait has been among the fastest states to turn pledges for Syria into cheques in the UN's name).
IRIN asked Saudi Arabian, Qatari and Kuwaiti representatives for comment, but had not received responses by the time of publication.
Still blockaded
Although the donation shortfall is significant, the World Bank argues that the major obstacle to reconstruction is "not financing, but the limitations on imports of construction materials into Gaza.
"Israel insists crippling restrictions are necessary for its security – it contends that in the past Hamas repurposed construction materials to build underground tunnels that it uses to store weaponry and attack Israeli citizens.Following a ceasefire agreement, a mechanism was set up to track the flow of goods for reconstruction in Gaza.
But the territory's economy remains largely closed off from the West Bank, Israel and Egypt – a factor that has hampered economic growth. Residents require permits to leave the territory, and these are only granted in limited circumstances. The recent conflict further devastated the territory’s economy. The World Bank estimates Gaza’s GDP will be $530 million less in 2015 than it would have been without the war.
Since the fighting, unemployment has jumped 11 percent to 44 percent, "probably the highest in the world," the Bank said. Sixty percent of young people are out of a job, and 80 percent of the strip's 1.8 million residents receive some sort of aid.
Steen Lau Jorgensen, the World Bank's Country Director for the West Bank and Gaza, called the outlook for Gaza "very troubling." "The ongoing blockade and the 2014 war have taken a toll on Gaza’s economy and people's livelihoods," he said in a statement, commenting on the near disappearance of exports and a 60 percent shrink in manufacturing. "The economy cannot survive without being connected to the outside world."
Gulf Arab states and Turkey have spectacularly failed to fulfill their pledges to Gaza, contributing to a two-thirds shortfall in promised assistance to the beleaguered enclave, a new report reveals.
Qatar has delivered just 10 percent of the $1 billion it promised, while Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Kuwait between them have handed over just over $50 million of the $900 million they pledged, according to a World Bank report seen by IRIN ahead of its release.
Last summer's war between Israel, Hamas and other Islamist militants killed more than 2,000 Palestinians – mostly civilians – and left more than 100,000 homeless by the time of an August ceasefire.
Despite concerns about political instability and the possibility of renewed conflict, the international community came out in force at an October conference in Cairo, promising $3.5 billion to help Gaza rebuild. The release of the World Bank’s numbers comes a month after UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestine refugees, said that not a single one of the more than 5,000 completely destroyed homes in Gaza had been rebuilt.
Big donors come up short
Although $5.4 billion was widely vaunted as the takeaway figure from the Cairo conference, only $3.5 billion of it was actually allocated to Gaza. As of late April, donors had given only 27.5 percent of the promised $3.5 billion, or $967 million. However, only 35 percent of the aid pledged - or $1.2 billion - was actually fresh, with the majority coming from reallocated donations and emergency funding delivered as the bombs were still falling.
Of this new aid, just 13.5 percent - or $165 million - has come through. Qatar pledged $1 billion for Gaza and has delivered 10 percent; Saudi Arabia has given only 10 percent of its promised $500 million. Turkey and Kuwait both pledged $200 million: the former has produced only $520,000, and the latter none.
Other top pledges included the United Arab Emirates’ $200 million, which the World Bank said no data was available for, the United States' $277 million pledge, which is 84 percent delivered, and the European Union's $348 million, with a 40 percent delivery rate.
Gulf states have become increasingly important donors in recent years, providing hundreds of millions of dollars to emergencies across the globe. Last year, Saudi Arabia pledged $500 million to Iraq, while it recently announced it would fill the entirety of a $274 million appeal for Yemen.
Yet they have also been known to work outside the traditional humanitarian system, while there have been complaints of late payments (although Kuwait has been among the fastest states to turn pledges for Syria into cheques in the UN's name).
IRIN asked Saudi Arabian, Qatari and Kuwaiti representatives for comment, but had not received responses by the time of publication.
Still blockaded
Although the donation shortfall is significant, the World Bank argues that the major obstacle to reconstruction is "not financing, but the limitations on imports of construction materials into Gaza.
"Israel insists crippling restrictions are necessary for its security – it contends that in the past Hamas repurposed construction materials to build underground tunnels that it uses to store weaponry and attack Israeli citizens.Following a ceasefire agreement, a mechanism was set up to track the flow of goods for reconstruction in Gaza.
But the territory's economy remains largely closed off from the West Bank, Israel and Egypt – a factor that has hampered economic growth. Residents require permits to leave the territory, and these are only granted in limited circumstances. The recent conflict further devastated the territory’s economy. The World Bank estimates Gaza’s GDP will be $530 million less in 2015 than it would have been without the war.
Since the fighting, unemployment has jumped 11 percent to 44 percent, "probably the highest in the world," the Bank said. Sixty percent of young people are out of a job, and 80 percent of the strip's 1.8 million residents receive some sort of aid.
Steen Lau Jorgensen, the World Bank's Country Director for the West Bank and Gaza, called the outlook for Gaza "very troubling." "The ongoing blockade and the 2014 war have taken a toll on Gaza’s economy and people's livelihoods," he said in a statement, commenting on the near disappearance of exports and a 60 percent shrink in manufacturing. "The economy cannot survive without being connected to the outside world."
11 may 2015
Marianne of Gothenburg left her home port at 7 pm on the 10 of May. The trawler, which has been acquired by Ship to Gaza Sweden and Ship to Gaza Norway jointly, departs for a voyage of almost 5,000 nautical miles to eastern Mediterranean and the blockaded Gaza Strip.
Marianne will join other ships and together they will form the “Freedom Flotilla III” in order to perform a peaceful, nonviolent action to break the illegal and inhumane blockade of the Gaza Strip.
In passing Marianne will call at European ports for manifestations against the blockade. The First three ports will be Helsingborg, Malmö and Copenhagen. The subsequent ports will be announced in press releases.
Cargo
Marianne is not a cargo-ship, but she will bring a limited cargo of, among other things, solar cell panels and medical equipment.
The solar cell panels are a gift from ETC-El. In the blockaded Gaza Strip, where the infrastructure has been demolished, solar cells will thus provide an opportunity to independent local production of clean energy. The sun can not be blockaded.
Delegates
In addition to a crew of five people, Marianne will have up to eight delegates as passengers in each section of the route. The names of these individuals will be announced as time progress. In the first section are among others:
Maria Svensson, pro. tem. spokesperson, Feministiskt initiativ
Mikael M Karlsson, Chairperson, Ship to Gaza Sweden
Henry Ascher, professor of Public Health, paediatrician
Lennart Berggren, filmmaker
Dror Feiler, musician, spokesperson of Ship to Gaza
Marianne will join other ships and together they will form the “Freedom Flotilla III” in order to perform a peaceful, nonviolent action to break the illegal and inhumane blockade of the Gaza Strip.
In passing Marianne will call at European ports for manifestations against the blockade. The First three ports will be Helsingborg, Malmö and Copenhagen. The subsequent ports will be announced in press releases.
Cargo
Marianne is not a cargo-ship, but she will bring a limited cargo of, among other things, solar cell panels and medical equipment.
The solar cell panels are a gift from ETC-El. In the blockaded Gaza Strip, where the infrastructure has been demolished, solar cells will thus provide an opportunity to independent local production of clean energy. The sun can not be blockaded.
Delegates
In addition to a crew of five people, Marianne will have up to eight delegates as passengers in each section of the route. The names of these individuals will be announced as time progress. In the first section are among others:
Maria Svensson, pro. tem. spokesperson, Feministiskt initiativ
Mikael M Karlsson, Chairperson, Ship to Gaza Sweden
Henry Ascher, professor of Public Health, paediatrician
Lennart Berggren, filmmaker
Dror Feiler, musician, spokesperson of Ship to Gaza
15 mar 2015
Ambassador Mohamed al-Imadi on Saturday urged the donor countries to meet their Gaza reconstruction pledges.
Al-Imadi, the head of the Qatari committee for the reconstruction of Gaza, said in an interview with the Anadolu news agency that several counties broke their promises to assist the Gaza reconstruction process.
He pointed out the ongoing Qatari and international initiatives to boost up the reconstruction process, citing the 10-million-dollar batch donated by Washington and other aids pledged by European and Arab states to that very end.
Earlier, some 2.6 billion dollars had been pledged for the reconstruction of Gaza in the Cairo donor conference.
The Qatari official said the Qatari government has been up to all the promises it has made, adding: “This is not a favor to Gaza. This is a national and religious duty. This is the least we can do. Much is still needed by Gaza.”
Al-Imadi, who arrived in Gaza via the Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing on Monday afternoon, spoke out against Egypt’s closure of the Rafah crossing.
Coordination has been underway with the Palestinian and Israeli sides to allow raw materials and building kit access into the Strip so as to press ahead with the launch of the Qatari-backed reconstruction projects, including the 1,000 housing units funded by the one billion dollar grant pledged by Qatar in the Cairo conference, he added.
Al-Imadi announced his intents to pop in the West Bank on Wednesday and meet representatives from the Palestinian Authority over possible aid mechanisms.
He further vowed that Qatar will work on finding a way out of the power crisis rocking the blockaded Gaza Strip.
Over 28,366 housing units sustained partial or total damage in Israel’s 51-day offensive launched on Gaza last summer that killed some 2,200 Palestinians.
Al-Imadi, the head of the Qatari committee for the reconstruction of Gaza, said in an interview with the Anadolu news agency that several counties broke their promises to assist the Gaza reconstruction process.
He pointed out the ongoing Qatari and international initiatives to boost up the reconstruction process, citing the 10-million-dollar batch donated by Washington and other aids pledged by European and Arab states to that very end.
Earlier, some 2.6 billion dollars had been pledged for the reconstruction of Gaza in the Cairo donor conference.
The Qatari official said the Qatari government has been up to all the promises it has made, adding: “This is not a favor to Gaza. This is a national and religious duty. This is the least we can do. Much is still needed by Gaza.”
Al-Imadi, who arrived in Gaza via the Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing on Monday afternoon, spoke out against Egypt’s closure of the Rafah crossing.
Coordination has been underway with the Palestinian and Israeli sides to allow raw materials and building kit access into the Strip so as to press ahead with the launch of the Qatari-backed reconstruction projects, including the 1,000 housing units funded by the one billion dollar grant pledged by Qatar in the Cairo conference, he added.
Al-Imadi announced his intents to pop in the West Bank on Wednesday and meet representatives from the Palestinian Authority over possible aid mechanisms.
He further vowed that Qatar will work on finding a way out of the power crisis rocking the blockaded Gaza Strip.
Over 28,366 housing units sustained partial or total damage in Israel’s 51-day offensive launched on Gaza last summer that killed some 2,200 Palestinians.
14 mar 2015
Activists, journalists and officials launched a large-scale campaign to fund the construction of a medical complex in Rafah, to the south of Gaza Strip, and created a hashtag for this purpose.
The campaign also included organizing press conferences and various activities in many areas to highlight the medical needs of the province.
The first activity was launched on Friday evening under the hashtag #Rafah_needs_hospital, marking the beginning of a series of activities aimed at realizing the idea of establishing the badly-needed medical complex. A big number of tweets were posted calling for interacting and participating in the activities and shedding light on the desperate need for a central hospital in Rafah.
Activist Abdullah Lafi said, "Residents of Rafah were victims of the Friday massacre during the Israeli aggression on the Strip and literally couldn't find a hospital", pointing to the horrific massacre committed in the Gaza Strip on the first of August during the last war on the Strip, when the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) unleashed intensive gunfire and shelling after the Israeli soldier Hadar Goldin went missing.
The heavy gunfire and shelling led to the killing of about 100 citizens in one day, out of 443 killed in Rafah throughout 51 days of aggression, and the injury of hundreds who haven't received medical treatment due to the lack of a hospital in the area, especially after shelling Abu Yousef al-Najjar Hospital and isolating Rafah from Khan Younis.
Do justice to Rafah
For his part, Dr. Khalid Abu Nada said: "Do Justice to Rafah, I address all officials…in the government…in the charity institutions…in the national and Islamic forces… Rafah is the only city where there is no hospital; al-Najjar is actually a clinic and not a hospital."
Rafah is located in the southernmost of Gaza, its area is 55 Km2 and its population is about 220 thousand people. It is bound on the west by the Mediterranean, on the east by the 1948-armistice line, and on the south by the Egyptian-Palestinian borders.
Plans are ready
According to Rafah activists, planning for the construction of a medical complex in Rafah started by a committee called Friends of Rafah Medical Complex formed by a number of social figures.
Activist Muhammad al-Sharif said: "The 52-acre ground is ready and so are the engineering plans and the initial perception of the project in accordance with the international standards for healthcare institutions. Moreoever, a founding committee of independent national and Islamic figures is being formed to follow up on the implementation of this governmental project."
The committee said that the project will be handed to the Palestinian Ministry of Health after its implementation.
The committee is headed by Jamal Abu Hashim with Isa al-Nashar as the treasurer in addition to six members.
The ground allocated for the project is located along Abu Bakr al-Siddeek St. in the western area of Rafah, and it can be reached easily as it is not crowded. It provides a possibility for future expansion, the environmental conditions are appropriate with a suitable sea view and the needed infrastructure is available in the area.
The campaign concentrates on funding the hospital, hoping that this project will be adopted by the Qatari grant for the reconstruction of Gaza.
The campaign also included organizing press conferences and various activities in many areas to highlight the medical needs of the province.
The first activity was launched on Friday evening under the hashtag #Rafah_needs_hospital, marking the beginning of a series of activities aimed at realizing the idea of establishing the badly-needed medical complex. A big number of tweets were posted calling for interacting and participating in the activities and shedding light on the desperate need for a central hospital in Rafah.
Activist Abdullah Lafi said, "Residents of Rafah were victims of the Friday massacre during the Israeli aggression on the Strip and literally couldn't find a hospital", pointing to the horrific massacre committed in the Gaza Strip on the first of August during the last war on the Strip, when the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) unleashed intensive gunfire and shelling after the Israeli soldier Hadar Goldin went missing.
The heavy gunfire and shelling led to the killing of about 100 citizens in one day, out of 443 killed in Rafah throughout 51 days of aggression, and the injury of hundreds who haven't received medical treatment due to the lack of a hospital in the area, especially after shelling Abu Yousef al-Najjar Hospital and isolating Rafah from Khan Younis.
Do justice to Rafah
For his part, Dr. Khalid Abu Nada said: "Do Justice to Rafah, I address all officials…in the government…in the charity institutions…in the national and Islamic forces… Rafah is the only city where there is no hospital; al-Najjar is actually a clinic and not a hospital."
Rafah is located in the southernmost of Gaza, its area is 55 Km2 and its population is about 220 thousand people. It is bound on the west by the Mediterranean, on the east by the 1948-armistice line, and on the south by the Egyptian-Palestinian borders.
Plans are ready
According to Rafah activists, planning for the construction of a medical complex in Rafah started by a committee called Friends of Rafah Medical Complex formed by a number of social figures.
Activist Muhammad al-Sharif said: "The 52-acre ground is ready and so are the engineering plans and the initial perception of the project in accordance with the international standards for healthcare institutions. Moreoever, a founding committee of independent national and Islamic figures is being formed to follow up on the implementation of this governmental project."
The committee said that the project will be handed to the Palestinian Ministry of Health after its implementation.
The committee is headed by Jamal Abu Hashim with Isa al-Nashar as the treasurer in addition to six members.
The ground allocated for the project is located along Abu Bakr al-Siddeek St. in the western area of Rafah, and it can be reached easily as it is not crowded. It provides a possibility for future expansion, the environmental conditions are appropriate with a suitable sea view and the needed infrastructure is available in the area.
The campaign concentrates on funding the hospital, hoping that this project will be adopted by the Qatari grant for the reconstruction of Gaza.
1 mar 2015
A French solidarity convoy, carrying medicines and food parcels, is expected to have arrived in Gaza Saturday via the Beit Hanoun border crossing after having been stuck for several months in the Egyptian territories.
Coordinator of the French Barakacity association, Rami Abu Sultan, said the envoy has been stranded in Egypt for several months due to the closure of the Rafah crossing.
Having denied access into Gaza for over three months, the EU-licensed delegation was obliged to shift the course and head to Jordan so as to change all the expired medicines and food items and deliver them to the West Bank in an attempt to transfer them to Gaza at the soonest time possible.
The dispatched trucks are loaded with medical kit, food packages, heating equipment, solar-energy devices, and warm clothes, all expected to be handed to the Palestinian health ministry soon.
Thousands of Palestinians, mostly students and sick civilians, have been stranded at the Rafah border-crossing blocked by the Egyptian authorities since October 24 last year.
Coordinator of the French Barakacity association, Rami Abu Sultan, said the envoy has been stranded in Egypt for several months due to the closure of the Rafah crossing.
Having denied access into Gaza for over three months, the EU-licensed delegation was obliged to shift the course and head to Jordan so as to change all the expired medicines and food items and deliver them to the West Bank in an attempt to transfer them to Gaza at the soonest time possible.
The dispatched trucks are loaded with medical kit, food packages, heating equipment, solar-energy devices, and warm clothes, all expected to be handed to the Palestinian health ministry soon.
Thousands of Palestinians, mostly students and sick civilians, have been stranded at the Rafah border-crossing blocked by the Egyptian authorities since October 24 last year.
27 feb 2015
30 international aid groups on Thursday afternoon released a joint statement condemning the international continued silence on Israel's unfair siege on Gaza, warning of "a return to hostilities if progress is not made and the root causes of conflict are not addressed."
The statement held Israel, as the occupying power, fully responsible for the serious implications of its siege on Gaza. "It (Israel) must fully lift the blockade, within the framework of UN Security Council Resolution 1860 (2009)."
The following is the joint statement as published by the Norwegian Refugee Council.
"Six months have passed since a ceasefire on 26 August 2014 ended over seven weeks of fighting between Israeli forces and Palestinian armed groups in the Gaza Strip. As UN agencies and international NGOs operating in Gaza, we are alarmed by the limited progress in rebuilding the lives of those affected and tackling the root causes of the conflict.
The Israeli-imposed blockade continues, the political process, along with the economy, are paralyzed, and living conditions have worsened. Reconstruction and repairs to the tens of thousands of homes, hospitals, and schools damaged or destroyed in the fighting has been woefully slow. Sporadic rocket fire from Palestinian armed groups has resumed. Overall, the lack of progress has deepened levels of desperation and frustration among the population, more than two thirds of whom are Palestine refugees.
Living conditions in Gaza were already dire before the latest round of fighting. Most residents were unable to meet their food requirements and over seven years of blockade had severely compromised access to basic services, including to health, water and sanitation. But since July, the situation has deteriorated dramatically.
Approximately 100,000 Palestinians remain displaced this winter, living in dire conditions in schools and makeshift shelters not designed for long-term stay. Scheduled power cuts persist for up to 18 hours a day. The continued non-payment of the salaries of public sector employees and the lack of progress in the national unity government further increases tensions. With severe restrictions on movement, most of the 1.8 million residents are trapped in the coastal enclave, with no hope for the future.
Bearing the brunt of this suffering are the most vulnerable, including the elderly, persons with disabilities, women and nearly one million children, who have experienced unimaginable suffering in three major conflicts in six short years. Children lack access to quality education, with over 400,000 of them in need of immediate psychosocial support.
Within this context, the international community is not providing Gaza with adequate assistance. Little of the US$ 5.4 billion pledged in Cairo has reached Gaza. Cash assistance to families who lost everything has been suspended and other crucial aid is unavailable due to lack of funds. A return to hostilities is inevitable if progress is not made and the root causes of conflict are not addressed.
Israel, as the occupying power, is the main duty bearer and must comply with its obligations under international law. In particular, it must fully lift the blockade, within the framework of UN Security Council Resolution 1860 (2009). The fragile ceasefire must be reinforced, and the parties must resume negotiations to achieve a comprehensive settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian issue.
All parties must respect international law and those responsible for violations must be brought to justice. Accountability and adherence to international humanitarian law and international human rights law are essential pre-requisites for any lasting peace.
Also imperative, Egypt needs to open the Rafah Crossing, most urgently for humanitarian cases, and donor pledges must be translated into disbursements.
We must not fail in Gaza. We must realize the vision of making Gaza a livable place and a cornerstone of peace and security for all in the region."
The 30 International Aid Agencies:
1. Action Aid
2. Alianza por la Solidaridad
3. DanChurchAid
4. Diakonia
5. Handicap International
6. Helpage International
7. Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP)
8. Médecins du Monde
9. Medico international
10. Mennonite Central Committee
11. Movement for Peace – MPDL
12. Norwegian Church Aid
13. Norwegian People’s Aid
14. Norwegian Refugee Council
15. Office of the Humanitarian Coordinator and UN Resident Coordinator
16. Oxfam
17. Première Urgence – Aide Médicale Internationale
18. Rebuilding Alliance
19. Save the Children International
20. Secours Islamique France
21. Terre des Hommes Foundation
22. The Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation
23. The Swedish Organisation for Individual Relief
24. UN OCHA oPt
25. UN OHCHR Palestine
26. UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA)
27. UN Women
28. World Food Programme
29. World Health Organization
30. World Vision Jerusalem - West Bank - Gaza
The statement held Israel, as the occupying power, fully responsible for the serious implications of its siege on Gaza. "It (Israel) must fully lift the blockade, within the framework of UN Security Council Resolution 1860 (2009)."
The following is the joint statement as published by the Norwegian Refugee Council.
"Six months have passed since a ceasefire on 26 August 2014 ended over seven weeks of fighting between Israeli forces and Palestinian armed groups in the Gaza Strip. As UN agencies and international NGOs operating in Gaza, we are alarmed by the limited progress in rebuilding the lives of those affected and tackling the root causes of the conflict.
The Israeli-imposed blockade continues, the political process, along with the economy, are paralyzed, and living conditions have worsened. Reconstruction and repairs to the tens of thousands of homes, hospitals, and schools damaged or destroyed in the fighting has been woefully slow. Sporadic rocket fire from Palestinian armed groups has resumed. Overall, the lack of progress has deepened levels of desperation and frustration among the population, more than two thirds of whom are Palestine refugees.
Living conditions in Gaza were already dire before the latest round of fighting. Most residents were unable to meet their food requirements and over seven years of blockade had severely compromised access to basic services, including to health, water and sanitation. But since July, the situation has deteriorated dramatically.
Approximately 100,000 Palestinians remain displaced this winter, living in dire conditions in schools and makeshift shelters not designed for long-term stay. Scheduled power cuts persist for up to 18 hours a day. The continued non-payment of the salaries of public sector employees and the lack of progress in the national unity government further increases tensions. With severe restrictions on movement, most of the 1.8 million residents are trapped in the coastal enclave, with no hope for the future.
Bearing the brunt of this suffering are the most vulnerable, including the elderly, persons with disabilities, women and nearly one million children, who have experienced unimaginable suffering in three major conflicts in six short years. Children lack access to quality education, with over 400,000 of them in need of immediate psychosocial support.
Within this context, the international community is not providing Gaza with adequate assistance. Little of the US$ 5.4 billion pledged in Cairo has reached Gaza. Cash assistance to families who lost everything has been suspended and other crucial aid is unavailable due to lack of funds. A return to hostilities is inevitable if progress is not made and the root causes of conflict are not addressed.
Israel, as the occupying power, is the main duty bearer and must comply with its obligations under international law. In particular, it must fully lift the blockade, within the framework of UN Security Council Resolution 1860 (2009). The fragile ceasefire must be reinforced, and the parties must resume negotiations to achieve a comprehensive settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian issue.
All parties must respect international law and those responsible for violations must be brought to justice. Accountability and adherence to international humanitarian law and international human rights law are essential pre-requisites for any lasting peace.
Also imperative, Egypt needs to open the Rafah Crossing, most urgently for humanitarian cases, and donor pledges must be translated into disbursements.
We must not fail in Gaza. We must realize the vision of making Gaza a livable place and a cornerstone of peace and security for all in the region."
The 30 International Aid Agencies:
1. Action Aid
2. Alianza por la Solidaridad
3. DanChurchAid
4. Diakonia
5. Handicap International
6. Helpage International
7. Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP)
8. Médecins du Monde
9. Medico international
10. Mennonite Central Committee
11. Movement for Peace – MPDL
12. Norwegian Church Aid
13. Norwegian People’s Aid
14. Norwegian Refugee Council
15. Office of the Humanitarian Coordinator and UN Resident Coordinator
16. Oxfam
17. Première Urgence – Aide Médicale Internationale
18. Rebuilding Alliance
19. Save the Children International
20. Secours Islamique France
21. Terre des Hommes Foundation
22. The Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation
23. The Swedish Organisation for Individual Relief
24. UN OCHA oPt
25. UN OHCHR Palestine
26. UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA)
27. UN Women
28. World Food Programme
29. World Health Organization
30. World Vision Jerusalem - West Bank - Gaza
15 feb 2015
Solar Panels in Gaza / Solar Gaza Lights Project
Gaza is in desperate need of power. One organization hopes to bring clean, renewable energy to Gaza with the installation of solar panels.
Over the past few months an international team of humanitarians have been organizing a project which would bring solar power to Gaza. Gaza engineer, Naji Abu Shaaban, along with his group of engineers in Gaza have been working around the clock to make this solar project a reality.
Outside of Gaza are a number of supporters of this project which include internationally recognized artist, Martha Tjoe Nij, who has supported the project from her home in Suriname. A Turkish webmaster, Hatice, volunteered her time to create a website for the Solar Gaza project, which has evolved from #SolarGaza when it was started on Twitter as an idea, to its new official title Solar Gaza Lights.
The goals of the project are aimed specifically at solar power restoration of electricity for the most needy in Gaza. The organization has teamed up with the Jerusalem Development Fund's office in Gaza to help with alleviating electricity shortages by donating solar power units. The project also intends on creating employment opportunities for project engineers in Gaza. Utilizing local talent is part of the strategy the group decided on from the beginning.
The group is looking to create partnerships with individuals, groups, and organizations who can assist with getting solar units installed, helping get the units imported into Gaza, assisting with funding of these projects, and publicizing the organization around the world.
Following Israel's devestating attack on Gaza in the summer of 2014, a health crisis was created when hospitals lost electricity, while the Israeli blockade continues to create a shortage of medical supplies and medicines. In addition to those issues, shortages of electricity are causing immense problems not just in hospitals, but in the lives of the people of Gaza. Some areas of Gaza are experiencing power cuts stretching up to 48 hours at a time. Abu Shaaban says that living under these conditions, "is unacceptable and a crime against humanity."
To find out more about Solar Gaza Lights visit their website at www.solargazalights.org or follow them on Twitter @solargazalights
Gaza is in desperate need of power. One organization hopes to bring clean, renewable energy to Gaza with the installation of solar panels.
Over the past few months an international team of humanitarians have been organizing a project which would bring solar power to Gaza. Gaza engineer, Naji Abu Shaaban, along with his group of engineers in Gaza have been working around the clock to make this solar project a reality.
Outside of Gaza are a number of supporters of this project which include internationally recognized artist, Martha Tjoe Nij, who has supported the project from her home in Suriname. A Turkish webmaster, Hatice, volunteered her time to create a website for the Solar Gaza project, which has evolved from #SolarGaza when it was started on Twitter as an idea, to its new official title Solar Gaza Lights.
The goals of the project are aimed specifically at solar power restoration of electricity for the most needy in Gaza. The organization has teamed up with the Jerusalem Development Fund's office in Gaza to help with alleviating electricity shortages by donating solar power units. The project also intends on creating employment opportunities for project engineers in Gaza. Utilizing local talent is part of the strategy the group decided on from the beginning.
The group is looking to create partnerships with individuals, groups, and organizations who can assist with getting solar units installed, helping get the units imported into Gaza, assisting with funding of these projects, and publicizing the organization around the world.
Following Israel's devestating attack on Gaza in the summer of 2014, a health crisis was created when hospitals lost electricity, while the Israeli blockade continues to create a shortage of medical supplies and medicines. In addition to those issues, shortages of electricity are causing immense problems not just in hospitals, but in the lives of the people of Gaza. Some areas of Gaza are experiencing power cuts stretching up to 48 hours at a time. Abu Shaaban says that living under these conditions, "is unacceptable and a crime against humanity."
To find out more about Solar Gaza Lights visit their website at www.solargazalights.org or follow them on Twitter @solargazalights
14 feb 2015
Chief of OCHA James Rawley
The United Nations announced on Friday in Ramallah that it will launch a strategic plan to provide $705 million in humanitarian assistance for Palestine this year.
James Rawley, chief of the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Palestine, announced Friday that 80 percent of the $705 million in humanitarian aid will be devoted to the Gaza Strip.
Rawley's statements from Ramallah came as part of a joint news conference with Mohamed Mustafa, the P.A. Minister of National Economy and deputy premier of the unity government.
The amount of funding was requested by OCHA, UNRWA, and the Palestinian government. According to a Palestinian government spokesperson, these funds are necessary to meet the necessities of the Palestinian population living in the West Bank and Gaza through the remainder of the year.
“2014 was a tragic year for Palestine, with a sharp increase in humanitarian needs,” explained the humanitarian coordinator, James W. Rawley, who noted that today, 100,000 people in Gaza are still unable to return to their destroyed homes due to last summer’s Israeli attack.
“In the West Bank, thousands more live in chronic insecurity, at risk of losing their homes and livelihoods as a result of demolitions,” Rawley said. He later expressed his concern about the increase in Israeli demolitions of Palestinian buildings and called for the end of that illegal operation immediately.
Speaking on the cash promised by various donors in Cairo last October, Rawley said, “Reconstruction in the Gaza Strip is unfortunately going opposite to what had been planned before, because of the lack of donations that were pledged by the donors to aid the Palestinians."
The UN official warned that without enough funding for the plan, “around 1.6 million Palestinians will be deprived from humanitarian aid, such as food, water, electricity and sewage”, and if the plan was not implemented, “this would negatively influence their lives and their ability of gaining education and medical services.
Rawley called for an immediate lifting of the Israeli blockade, which has been imposed on the Gaza Strip for almost eight years. He also called for reopening the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt, as well as free movement of goods between Gaza and the West Bank.
According to the plan designed by institutions working in the area, $705 million is needed to tackle the 207 selected projects proposed by 77 national and international organizations and UN agencies.
The representative of the Palestinian Authority told reporters that the Palestinian government welcomes the UN plan, but also warned that the situation in the Gaza Strip would get worse if the overcrowded area did not receive enough humanitarian aid and if Palestinians in Gaza's living conditions did not imrpove.
The United Nations announced on Friday in Ramallah that it will launch a strategic plan to provide $705 million in humanitarian assistance for Palestine this year.
James Rawley, chief of the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Palestine, announced Friday that 80 percent of the $705 million in humanitarian aid will be devoted to the Gaza Strip.
Rawley's statements from Ramallah came as part of a joint news conference with Mohamed Mustafa, the P.A. Minister of National Economy and deputy premier of the unity government.
The amount of funding was requested by OCHA, UNRWA, and the Palestinian government. According to a Palestinian government spokesperson, these funds are necessary to meet the necessities of the Palestinian population living in the West Bank and Gaza through the remainder of the year.
“2014 was a tragic year for Palestine, with a sharp increase in humanitarian needs,” explained the humanitarian coordinator, James W. Rawley, who noted that today, 100,000 people in Gaza are still unable to return to their destroyed homes due to last summer’s Israeli attack.
“In the West Bank, thousands more live in chronic insecurity, at risk of losing their homes and livelihoods as a result of demolitions,” Rawley said. He later expressed his concern about the increase in Israeli demolitions of Palestinian buildings and called for the end of that illegal operation immediately.
Speaking on the cash promised by various donors in Cairo last October, Rawley said, “Reconstruction in the Gaza Strip is unfortunately going opposite to what had been planned before, because of the lack of donations that were pledged by the donors to aid the Palestinians."
The UN official warned that without enough funding for the plan, “around 1.6 million Palestinians will be deprived from humanitarian aid, such as food, water, electricity and sewage”, and if the plan was not implemented, “this would negatively influence their lives and their ability of gaining education and medical services.
Rawley called for an immediate lifting of the Israeli blockade, which has been imposed on the Gaza Strip for almost eight years. He also called for reopening the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt, as well as free movement of goods between Gaza and the West Bank.
According to the plan designed by institutions working in the area, $705 million is needed to tackle the 207 selected projects proposed by 77 national and international organizations and UN agencies.
The representative of the Palestinian Authority told reporters that the Palestinian government welcomes the UN plan, but also warned that the situation in the Gaza Strip would get worse if the overcrowded area did not receive enough humanitarian aid and if Palestinians in Gaza's living conditions did not imrpove.
21 jan 2015
Egyptian authorities on Wednesday were preparing to ship large quantities of humanitarian aid from the United Arab Emirates to the Gaza Strip.
An Egyptian security official told Ma'an in Cairo that 175 tons of humanitarian aid from the UAE arrived Tuesday evening at El-Arish in North Sinai district.
The shipment includes food, medicines and medical equipment. The cargo was then shipped to the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing to be delivered to the Gaza Strip.
On Tuesday, 30 tons of humanitarian aid from Saudi Arabia were delivered to the Gaza Strip as well as 13 packages of medical aid from the Egyptian Red Crescent Association.
The shipment was under the supervision of the UAE Red Crescent.
After Hamas took power in Gaza after winning legislative elections in 2006 and violent clashes broke out between the movement and its rival Fatah party, Israel and Egypt put in place a blockade.
The siege of the small coastal enclave has led to frequent humanitarian crises and outbreaks of violence between Gaza militants and Israeli forces.
An Egyptian security official told Ma'an in Cairo that 175 tons of humanitarian aid from the UAE arrived Tuesday evening at El-Arish in North Sinai district.
The shipment includes food, medicines and medical equipment. The cargo was then shipped to the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing to be delivered to the Gaza Strip.
On Tuesday, 30 tons of humanitarian aid from Saudi Arabia were delivered to the Gaza Strip as well as 13 packages of medical aid from the Egyptian Red Crescent Association.
The shipment was under the supervision of the UAE Red Crescent.
After Hamas took power in Gaza after winning legislative elections in 2006 and violent clashes broke out between the movement and its rival Fatah party, Israel and Egypt put in place a blockade.
The siege of the small coastal enclave has led to frequent humanitarian crises and outbreaks of violence between Gaza militants and Israeli forces.
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