United Nations relief agencies and their partners in the occupied
Palestinian territory are calling on the international community
to provide $25 million in new funding to stabilize the
deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, including
the effects of deep power cuts and lack of fuel for generators
for hospitals.
“The situation in Gaza has become increasingly precarious over
recent months. No one is untouched by the energy crisis,” said
Robert Piper, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for the occupied
Palestinian territory, in a press release.
“The coping capacities of Gaza's families to deal with these
types of shocks are seriously depleted as the cumulative impact
of 10 years of isolation, division and insecurity take their
toll,” he added.
In a document presented today to diplomats of donor countries in
Jerusalem, the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees
in the Near East (UNRWA), the UN Office for the Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the World Food Programme (WFP) and
other entities identified priority, life-saving interventions in
the health, water, sanitation and hygiene, and food security
sectors.
Included in the package are chemicals for water treatment and
spare parts for generators that have increasingly become the
primary energy source instead of the back-up for key facilities.
The package also targets shortages in medical supplies and aims
to provide assistance to an estimated 100,000 food-insecure
families and vulnerable farmers whose livelihoods are under
threat.
Responding to the heightened risk of diarrhoeal disease
outbreaks, 8,500 hygiene kits will also be distributed for the
most vulnerable households, funds permitting.
Despite the arrival of some fuel purchased in the Egyptian market
over recent days, Gaza's electricity crisis is far from over,
according to the press release. Electricity supply over recent
days has ranged from four to six hours per day. Fuel is also
needed for generators for water treatment plants, sewerage pumps
and other key facilities.
