UN's Gaza Myopia

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warned Sunday that if Israel carries out its threatened sanctions after declaring Gaza "hostile territory," it would likely create a humanitarian crisis.

You got to be kidding me HUMANITARIAN CRISIS? Israel is not the cause of any Humanitarian Crisis---this is:

• May 16, 2007 Over thirty rockets were launched at the Israeli town of Sderot, seriously wounding one woman.

• May 21, 2007 Shir-El Feldman, 32, killed and two others wounded in Qassam rocket strike on Sderot.

• May 27, 2007 Oshri Oz, 36, killed when a Qassam rocket struck near his car and fatally wounded him.

• May 29, 2007 Seventeen Qassams strike the Negev, with three landing in Sderot. The Popular Resistance Committees and the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine claimed responsibility for the attacks.

• June 18, 2007 A Qassam rocket fired from Gaza struck a factory, containing hazardous materials, in Sderot. The attack resulted in a leak of gaseous caustic soda and prompted the response of police, fire-fighting forces, and teams specialized in dealing with hazardous materials who sealed the leak and removed the poisonous materials.

• June 20, 2007 Nine Qassam rockets struck the western Negev injuring three with shrapnel and causing shock in at least seven reported cases. In Sderot, rockets damaged two homes and a synagogue. Two of the rockets struck near Kibbutz Nir Am injuring no one but causing a power outage in the area by damaging a high-tension wire. Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for four of the rockets.

• July 8, 2007 Five Qassam rockets struck the Western Negev with three striking near Sapir College. The attack did not result in any reported casualties and caused damage to a building undergoing construction. The al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of Islamic Jihad, claimed responsibility for the attack.

• July 19, 2007 Four Qassam rockets struck southern Israel, damaging several buildings and causing five people to suffer from shock -- one of whom required hospitalization.

• August 22, 2007 A Qassam rocket landed in Sderot late in the evening, causing no reported damage or casualties.

• August 23, 2007 Eight Qassam rockets hit in the Negev. Two landing in Sderot caused minor injuries, anxiety, and damage to a house.

• September 3, 2007 Seven Qassam rockets hit in the Negev. One landed in the courtyard of a Sderot day-care center, damaging a building and causing shock to twelve people, including some infants. Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility.

• September 11, 2007 Qassam rockets fired from Beit Hanun struck the Zikim military base, a basic training camp for the IDF, resulting in at least 66 wounded, with at least 10 moderately to seriously. The attack harmed both male and female soldiers. Nasr Salah al-Din Brigades and Islamic Jihad both claimed responsibility for the attacks.
  

The end of any "hardship" is in the hands of the Gaza residents and their terrorist government. Just yesterday the UN Human Rights Council President was asked whether he was satisfied with the way the council had handled the conflict, to which he answered "at this point, the council has failed. The Palestinian issue is very complex. It has many facets. The council must remain modest and stay within the confines of issues pertaining to it ? those of human rights. However, the council must examine the actions of both sides, not only one side," Costea said.

Maybe Costea can explain that to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)

UN: Severe hardships in Gaza if Israel carries out sanctions

Dan Izenberg , JPost

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warned Sunday that if Israel carries out its threatened sanctions after declaring Gaza "hostile territory," it would likely create a humanitarian crisis.

"In the past three months, 106 cargo trucks were allowed into the Gaza Strip per workday," the organization wrote in a paper issued in response to Israel's September 19 announcement of a change in policy towards Gaza in response to the continued shelling of western Negev communities.

"This assured the prevention of a humanitarian crisis among the Gaza population. The continuation of this situation cannot be guaranteed if there is an additional deterioration regarding the restrictions at the Gaza border crossings," the paper said.

OCHA pointed out that until Hamas took over full control of the Gaza Strip in June, some 238 cargo trucks had crossed into Gaza each day.

But less than 10 percent of the goods allowed into Gaza today come from humanitarian aid. Some 86% of the cargo trucks carry commercial goods. Even though humanitarian aid is likely to continue in the face of Israeli sanctions, the Gaza population is largely dependent on commercial imports for its sustenance.

OCHA also examined the impact of threatened cuts of energy and fuel on the Gaza population.

Gaza is dependent on Israel, in one form or another, for 91% of its energy.

The Israel Electric Corporation directly supplies 62.5% of Gaza energy. Another 28.6% comes in the form of fuel, paid for by the European Community but provided by the Dor Alon oil company, delivered to the local Gaza electricity company.

According to OCHA, Gaza has almost no oil reserves of its own. "The scarcity will be felt in 48 hours," the report said.

It pointed out that when the EU suspended payment for fuel for three days, and Gaza was dependent on Israeli and Egyptian energy, it could only supply 71% of normal consumption.

This led to power outages lasting up to 12 hours, which disrupted the water pumps and caused water shortages, particularly in multi-storied apartment buildings in Gaza City. When Israel knocked out power turbines in July 2006, elevators stopped working, food spoiled, and it was hard to maintain hygiene.

Should Israel cut the power, Gaza will have to use generators to work the water pumps. But this is only a short-term solution, since the generators are only meant to be used in emergencies and cannot cope with long hours of operation.

Prolonged use will cause deterioration of parts which, because of the almost total closure of the Karni Crossing, will not be able to be replaced. It will also double the consumption of oil consumed to pump the water.

There are 12 public hospitals in Gaza, all of which have emergency generators in case of a power failure. The hospitals will face the same problems. During the three days that the EU refused to supply Gaza with fuel, the hospitals had to use their generators 12 hours a day and consume 8,000 liters of oil to run them. In order to save costs, the hospitals stopped using air conditioners in most units.

Many first-line clinics had to shut down because they did not have generators.

OCHA warned that if Israel implements the measures, it could be guilty of collective punishment. "The suggested measures could constitute a violation of international humanitarian and human rights law," the organization warned.