{"id":129725,"date":"2018-03-16T13:35:43","date_gmt":"2018-03-16T13:35:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/?post_type=document&#038;p=129725"},"modified":"2018-03-19T17:29:58","modified_gmt":"2018-03-19T21:29:58","slug":"unrwa-gaza-situation-report-issue-no-219","status":"publish","type":"document","link":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/document\/unrwa-gaza-situation-report-issue-no-219\/","title":{"rendered":"UNRWA Gaza Situation Report (Issue No. 219)"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"field field-name-field-publish-date field-type-datetime field-label-hidden\">\n<div class=\"field-items\">\n<div class=\"field-item even\"><strong><span class=\"date-display-single\">16 March 2018<\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"field field-name-field-images field-type-image field-label-hidden\">\n<div class=\"field-items\">\n<div class=\"field-item even\">\n<p><a class=\"colorbox init-colorbox-processed cboxElement\" title=\"\u00a9 UNRWA Gaza 2018. Photo by Khalil Adwan\" href=\"https:\/\/www.unrwa.org\/sites\/default\/files\/content\/news_articles\/news_article_83776_34611_1521224519.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload aligncenter\" title=\"\u00a9 UNRWA Gaza 2018. Photo by Khalil Adwan\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%27745%27%20height%3D%27450%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%20745%20450%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%27745%27%20height%3D%27450%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/www.unrwa.org\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/full_news_745x450\/public\/content\/news_articles\/news_article_83776_34611_1521224519.jpg?itok=H4knT80k\" alt=\"\u00a9 UNRWA Gaza 2018. Photo by Khalil Adwan\" width=\"745\" height=\"450\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"image-alt\" style=\"text-align: center\">\u00a9 UNRWA Gaza 2018. Photo by Khalil Adwan<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden\">\n<div class=\"field-items\">\n<div class=\"field-item even\">\n<p style=\"text-align: right\"><em>27 February \u2013 13 March 2018\u00a0| issues 219<\/em><\/p>\n<h3>HIGHLIGHTS<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>On 15 March, an extraordinary high-level conference \u2013 co-hosted by Sweden and Jordan and chaired by the UN Secretary-General &#8211; will take place in Rome to address UNRWA\u2019s current and unprecedented funding crisis. On 12 March, in the run-up to this conference and in line with the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/donate.unrwa.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#DignityIsPriceless<\/a>\u00a0campaign, over 5,300 students from 275 schools across the Gaza Strip together with other UNRWA students in Jordan, Syria, the West Bank and Lebanon flew\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.unrwa.org\/newsroom\/press-releases\/their-dreams-fly-high-unrwa-students-fly-thousands-kites-demanding-their\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">blue kites<\/a>\u00a0to send a message to the international community that they would like their right to education to be protected. On 22 January, UNRWA Commissioner-General Pierre Kr\u00e4henb\u00fchl had launched the global fundraising campaign\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/donate.unrwa.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#DignityIsPriceless<\/a>\u00a0to mobilize the international community to actively support a collective response to protect the rights and dignity of Palestinian Refugees. As part of this campaign, the social media initiative #GazaOnTheBrink was launched to further highlight the dire humanitarian situation for Palestine refugees in Gaza after 11 years of a land, sea and air blockade. Watch the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.unrwa.org\/newsroom\/videos\/gazaonthebrink-story-qusai-and-uday\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">story<\/a>\u00a0of Qusai and Uday, two Palestine refugee children from Gaza, which illustrates the role that UNRWA plays to bring hope, dignity, and life-saving services to hundreds of thousands of people.<\/li>\n<li>The blockade on Gaza will enter its 12<sup>th<\/sup>\u00a0year in June 2018. The heavy restrictions on the movement of people and goods in and out of Gaza have not only crushed the enclave\u2019s originally trade-based economy, they are also responsible for high and increasing levels of unemployment, poverty and food insecurity and contribute to widespread feelings of depression, hopelessness and confinement, particularly among Gaza\u2019s youth. In addition, the blockade creates high additional costs for humanitarian organizations operating in the Gaza Strip, reducing already scarce financial means for humanitarian interventions: in 2017 alone, additional staffing, transit and logistical costs resulting from Israeli requirements regarding access and monitoring of all UNRWA imports into the Gaza Strip amounted to almost US$ 8.49 million. The US$ 8.49 million does not include similar access costs that private contractors have incurred for shipping construction materials into Gaza through Kerem Shalom under the Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism (GRM). Such additional costs have also impacted the Agency\u2019s cash assistance for self-help repair and reconstruction interventions under the GRM. The US$ 8.49 million also excludes inflation (as projects are delayed prices increase and thus UNRWA is required to either downscale a project or request additional funding from a donor), as well as the price UNRWA and its staff are paying vis-\u00e0-vis the Agency\u2019s credibility among the Gazan community, from beneficiaries to contractors, and among the donor community.<\/li>\n<li>For the seventh anniversary of the most powerful earthquake ever recorded to hit Japan, messages of continued empathy and solidarity are sent out from Gaza. Over 1,000 Palestine refugee students from four UNRWA schools located in the area of the Khan Younis Training Centre (KYTC) in Khan Younis gathered to fly kites in commemoration of the disaster that killed more than 15,891 people and caused immense damage. In addition, a live Skype connection was held between UNRWA students and Japanese students, allowing for an exchange of experiences in their daily lives as well as their hopes for the future. The seventh annual kite-flying event in Khan Younis highlights the strong ties between the Japanese people and Palestine refugees in Gaza and reminds of both people\u2019s strength and resilience.<\/li>\n<li>On 8 March, International Women\u2019s Day (IWD) was celebrated globally under the theme\u00a0<a class=\"ext external-processed\" href=\"http:\/\/www.unwomen.org\/en\/news\/stories\/2018\/3\/statement-ed-phumzile-iwd-2018\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u201cTime is now: Rural and urban activists transforming women\u2019s lives\u201d.<\/a>\u00a0The theme highlights empowering women in all settings, rural and urban, as well as the activists who are working relentlessly to promote women\u2019s rights and opportunities for women to realize their full potential. Based on this theme, the UNRWA Gender Initiative organized four panel discussion with Community-Based Organizations across the Gaza Strip to discuss women\u2019s rights and access to justice as well as specific challenges such as in the agricultural sector in Gaza. In addition, the UNRWA Education Programme in Gaza will organize a range of activities at the Gaza Training Centre, including a drawing competition, music and dance, as well as a solidarity march of some 300 female students from UNRWA schools and UNRWA staff.<\/li>\n<li>UNRWA continues to implement infrastructure and construction projects that address some of the most pressing human development needs in the Gaza Strip. A total of 13 infrastructure projects worth US$ 44.87 million are under implementation while 20 projects worth US$ 29.17 million are awaiting implementation. In February, UNRWA imported 31 trucks of construction materials included on the list of dual use items such as cement, white cement, steel pipes, steel reinforcement bars, raw materials and elevators for ongoing UNRWA infrastructure projects.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>THE UNRWA SHELTER UPDATE<\/h3>\n<p><span class=\"blue\">Activities in February 2018:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Completed cases:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The reconstruction of 59 totally destroyed homes was completed.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Disbursement of payments<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>In total, UNRWA disbursed approximately US$ 2.80 million for shelter assistance:\n<ul>\n<li>For reconstruction: US$ 2,684,179<\/li>\n<li>For repair: US$ 98,743<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>OPERATIONAL ENVIRONMENT<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Between 1 and 12 March, Israeli patrol boats opened fire towards Palestinian boats off the coast of the Gaza Strip on 10 occasions, forcing them ashore. No injuries were reported.On 27 February and five occasions in early March, Israeli forces positioned at the border fence opened fire towards Palestinian areas. No injury and one person killed were reported.During the reporting period, on five occasions, civilians, mostly youth, staged protests against the US President\u2019s decision to move the American Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem near the perimeter fence in different areas of Gaza. When some of them approached the fence and threw stones towards Israeli observation posts, Israeli forces responded with gunfire and teargas. 19 injuries and one fatality were reported.\n<p>On 1 March, a 16-year-old Palestinian male was moderately injured in Gaza city as a result of the explosion of unexploded ordinance (ERW).<\/p>\n<p>On 9 March, a 15-year-old Palestinian male attempted to commit suicide by poisoning himself with overdose drug due, in the Beach camp.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>UNRWA\u2019S RESPONSE<\/h3>\n<h5 align=\"center\">UNRWA STUDENTS CALL FOR INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY TO PROTECT THEIR RIGHT TO EDUCATION<\/h5>\n<div class=\"media media-element-container media-color_box\">\n<p><a class=\"colorbox init-colorbox-processed cboxElement\" title=\"Students flying kites at the UNRWA Al-Rimal Preparatory Girls Co-ed School \u201cB\u201d. \u00a9 2018 UNRWA Photo by Khalil Adwan.\" href=\"https:\/\/www.unrwa.org\/sites\/default\/files\/img_7032.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload media-element file-color-box aligncenter\" title=\"Students flying kites at the UNRWA Al-Rimal Preparatory Girls Co-ed School \u201cB\u201d. \u00a9 2018 UNRWA Photo by Khalil Adwan.\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%27750%27%20height%3D%27500%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%20750%20500%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%27750%27%20height%3D%27500%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/www.unrwa.org\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/wysiwyg_colorbox\/public\/img_7032.jpg?itok=cIFeqCQN\" alt=\"Students flying kites at the UNRWA Al-Rimal Preparatory Girls Co-ed School \u201cB\u201d. \u00a9 2018 UNRWA Photo by Khalil Adwan.\" width=\"750\" height=\"500\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"field field-name-field-file-image-alt-text field-type-text field-label-hidden\">\n<div class=\"field-items\">\n<div class=\"field-item even\" style=\"text-align: center\">STUDENTS FLYING KITES AT THE UNRWA AL-RIMAL PREPARATORY GIRLS CO-ED SCHOOL \u201cB\u201d. \u00a9 2018 UNRWA PHOTO BY KHALIL ADWAN.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>On 15 March, an extraordinary high-level conference \u2013 co-hosted by Sweden and Jordan and chaired by the UN Secretary-General &#8211; will take place in Rome to address UNRWA\u2019s current and unprecedented funding crisis. On 12 March, in the run-up to this conference and in line with the #DignityIsPriceless Campaign, 5,300 students in 175 schools across the Gaza Strip in parallel with other UNRWA students from Lebanon, Jordan, the West Bank and Syria flew blue kites send a message to the international community that they would like their right to education to be protected.<\/p>\n<p>12-year-old, Hala Hijazi, one of the 80 students participating in the event in Al-Rimal Preparatory Girls Co-ed School, said; \u201dToday, I join my fellow students from Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and the West Bank to remind the international community of our basic right to education and that our dignity deserves to be protected. We want to keep studying and learning.\u201d Hala also expressed hope that \u201cpeople around the world will help protect our right to go to school.\u201d Nour Shihata, another student added: \u201cI dream to be a doctor in the future, but how can I achieve my dream without education?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>UNRWA sees education as a major investment into the dignity and human development of Palestine refugees. Providing quality, equitable and inclusive education is one of the Agency\u2019s strategic outcomes, as identified in the current Medium-Term Strategy 2016-2021, and directly contributes to achieving the UN Global Sustainable Development Goals, particularly the fourth goal which calls for ensuring inclusive and quality education for all and promoting lifelong learning.<\/p>\n<h3>FUNDING NEEDS<\/h3>\n<p>UNRWA is confronted with an increased demand for services resulting from a growth in the number of registered Palestine refugees, the extent of their vulnerability and their deepening poverty. UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions and financial support has been outpaced by the growth in needs. The recent announcement by its largest donor, the United States, to drastically reduce its funding to US$ 60 million in 2018 presents the Agency with a significant challenge in delivering its essential services in a predictable manner. UNRWA encourages all Member States to work collectively to exert all possible efforts to fully fund the Agency\u2019s Programme Budget in 2018.<\/p>\n<p>UNRWA\u2019s emergency programmes and key projects, also operating with large shortfalls, are funded through separate funding arrangements. Prioritised needs in Gaza in relation to the 2018 oPt Emergency Appeal include US$ 80 million for the distribution of emergency food parcels to almost 1 million people, at least US$ 10 million for creating temporary cash-for-work opportunities through UNRWA\u2019s Job Creation Programme as well as US$ 7 million for the Agency\u2019s Community Mental Health Programme. Furthermore, following the 2014 conflict, US$ 316 million has been pledged in support of UNRWA\u2019s emergency shelter programme, for which an estimated US$ 720 million is required. This leaves a current shortfall of US$ 404 million. UNRWA urgently appeals to donors to generously contribute to its emergency shelter programme to provide displaced Palestine refugees in Gaza with rental subsidies or cash assistance to undertake reconstruction of their demolished homes.<\/p>\n<h3>CROSSINGS<\/h3>\n<p>Longstanding restrictions on the movement of people and goods to and from Gaza have undermined the living conditions of 1.8 million Palestinians in Gaza.\u00a0<a class=\"ext external-processed\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gisha.org\/UserFiles\/File\/publications\/Info_Gaza_Eng.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Israel prevents all access to and from the Gaza Strip by sea and air<\/a>.\u00a0<a class=\"ext external-processed\" href=\"http:\/\/www.ochaopt.org\/content.aspx?id=1010266\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Movement of people and goods in and out of Gaza<\/a>\u00a0is restricted to three crossings: Rafah crossing, Erez crossing and Kerem Shalom crossing. Rafah crossing is controlled by the Egyptian authorities and technically allows for the movement of a number of authorized travelers, Palestinian medical and humanitarian cases only. Erez crossing is controlled by the Israeli authorities and technically allows for the movement of aid workers and a limited number of authorized travelers, including Palestinian medical and humanitarian cases. Kerem Shalom crossing, also controlled by Israeli authorities, technically allows for the movement of authorized goods only.<\/p>\n<table border=\"1\" width=\"704\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\">\n<p align=\"center\"><strong>Crossing<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>27 Feb<\/td>\n<td>28 Feb<\/td>\n<td>1 March<\/td>\n<td>2 March<\/td>\n<td>3 March<\/td>\n<td>4 March<\/td>\n<td>\n<p align=\"center\">5 March<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p align=\"center\">6 March<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p align=\"center\">7 March<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p align=\"center\">8 March<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p align=\"center\">9 March<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p align=\"center\">10 March<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p align=\"center\">11 March<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p align=\"center\">12 March<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\">\n<p align=\"center\"><strong>Rafah<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p align=\"center\">Closed.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>Closed.<\/td>\n<td>Open for truckloads of diesel fuel only.<\/td>\n<td>Open for truckloads of diesel fuel only.<\/td>\n<td>Closed.<\/td>\n<td>\n<p align=\"center\">Closed.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p align=\"center\">Open for truckloads of diesel fuel only.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p align=\"center\">Closed.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p align=\"center\">Closed.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p align=\"center\">Open for truckloads of diesel fuel only<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p align=\"center\">Closed.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p align=\"center\">Closed.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p align=\"center\">Closed.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p align=\"center\">Closed.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\">\n<p align=\"center\"><strong>Erez<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p align=\"center\">Open.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>Open.<\/td>\n<td>Open.<\/td>\n<td>open for urgent humanitarian and medical cases only<\/td>\n<td>Closed.<\/td>\n<td>\n<p align=\"center\">Open.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p align=\"center\">Open.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p align=\"center\">Open.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p align=\"center\">Open.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p align=\"center\">Open.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p align=\"center\">open for urgent humanitarian and medical cases only<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p align=\"center\">Closed.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p align=\"center\">Open.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p align=\"center\">Open.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td nowrap=\"nowrap\">\n<p align=\"center\"><strong>Kerem Shalom<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p align=\"center\">Open.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>Open.<\/td>\n<td>Open for fuel only.<\/td>\n<td>Closed.<\/td>\n<td>Closed.<\/td>\n<td>\n<p align=\"center\">Open.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p align=\"center\">Open.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p align=\"center\">Open.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p align=\"center\">Open.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p align=\"center\">Open.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p align=\"center\">Closed.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p align=\"center\">Closed.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p align=\"center\">Open.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p align=\"center\">Open.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>16 March 2018 \u00a9 UNRWA Gaza 2018. Photo by Khalil Adwan 27 February \u2013 13 March 2018\u00a0| issues 219 HIGHLIGHTS On 15 March, an extraordinary high-level conference \u2013 co-hosted by Sweden and Jordan and chaired by the UN Secretary-General &#8211; will take place in Rome to address UNRWA\u2019s current and unprecedented funding crisis. On 12 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/document\/unrwa-gaza-situation-report-issue-no-219\/\"> [&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":172,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"country":[],"document-category":[2929,2949],"document-source":[1817],"committee-meeting":[],"document-subject":[1945,1745],"entity":[1729],"document-language":[6542],"class_list":["post-129725","document","type-document","status-publish","hentry","document-category-situation-report","document-category-update","document-source-united-nations-relief-and-works-agency-for-palestine-refugees-in-the-near-east-unrwa","document-subject-assistance","document-subject-refugees-and-displaced-persons","entity-united-nations-system","document-language-english"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document\/129725","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/document"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/172"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document\/129725\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=129725"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"country","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/country?post=129725"},{"taxonomy":"document-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-category?post=129725"},{"taxonomy":"document-source","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-source?post=129725"},{"taxonomy":"committee-meeting","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/committee-meeting?post=129725"},{"taxonomy":"document-subject","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-subject?post=129725"},{"taxonomy":"entity","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/entity?post=129725"},{"taxonomy":"document-language","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-language?post=129725"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}