Gaza Situation Report 2017

Abstract

Gaza Strip is located on the south east corner of the Mediterranean Sea. The length of the Gaza Strip shore on the Mediterranean is about 41 km. The width of the strip ranges between 5 km in the middle to 8 km in the north and 12 km in the south as shown in figure 1. Gaza Strip is bounded by the green line with Israel from north and east and by Egypt from the south and by the Mediterranean in the west. The total population of the strip is about 2 millions inhabitant on a total area of 378 km² (PCBS, 2015 and UNEP, 2009).

Gaza strip is living in a sort of unique and very much complicated conditions. This is related to its geopolitical condition vulnerably influential by occupation since 1967, two Intifadas and establishment of Palestinian Authority, sequence of conflicts (2009, 2012, and 2014), blockade and internal division since 2007, and complexity of the unstable surrounding region (Arab Spring). Along with that, Gaza Strip is laid on the Mediterranean seashore with a population density closed to about 5500 cap/km2 living under very harsh condition and having very limited natural resources as well as high level of economy and movement restrictions.

The last ten years showed a very rapid changing and developing but unfortunately from bad to worse. This situation analysis report aims at providing concrete and up-to-date information about the situation in Gaza from humanitarian perspectives towards paving the road for international community and INGOs members to understand more deeply the needs and plan their interventions in line with them as well as compiling forming developed and organized information flow.

Full text

Gaza Situation Report
2017
Prepared by:
Dr. Ahmed H. Hilles
Dr. Azzam A. Abuhabeb
Submitted by:
Submitted to:
September, 2017

Gaza Situation Analysis
1

Gaza Situation Analysis
2
Contents
Table of figures
Table of tables
Abbreviations
1. Introduction ...................................................................................................................................................... 5
2. Three years after conflict: ................................................................................................................................ 6
3. Sectoral situation analysis: ............................................................................................................................... 8
3.1. Displacement & reconstruction: ....................................................................................................................... 8
3.1.1. Gaza Reconstruction Mechanisms GRM: ............................................................................................. 12
3.1.2. Gaza Border crossings and entering points: .......................................................................................... 14
3.2. Economy and trading situation ....................................................................................................................... 14
3.3. Food Security and Livelihoods: ..................................................................................................................... 15
3.4. Population Growth and Urbanization: ............................................................................................................ 17
3.5. Energy supplies & power crisis ...................................................................................................................... 18
3.6. Education ....................................................................................................................................................... 21
3.7. Health ............................................................................................................................................................. 22
3.7.1. Overview ............................................................................................................................................... 22
3.7.2. Disabilities ............................................................................................................................................. 25
3.7.3. The Elderly ............................................................................................................................................ 27
3.7.4. Environmental health ............................................................................................................................ 27
3.7.5. Communicable disease, public health risks ........................................................................................... 30
3.8. Water and Sanitation ...................................................................................................................................... 32
3.8.1. Overall status ......................................................................................................................................... 32
3.8.2. Effectiveness of GRM in WASH Projects: ........................................................................................... 35
3.8.3. Water Crisis Worsens Daily .................................................................................................................. 37
4. Gaza-Specific Planning Assumptions: ........................................................................................................... 40
5. References ...................................................................................................................................................... 41

Gaza Situation Analysis
3
Table of Figures
No.
Page
Figure 1:
Gaza Strip and the Areas Restricted for Palestinian Access…….............………
6
Figure 2:
Movements through crossing points……………………………………...……..
7
Figure 3:
Real GDP per capita in Gaza…………….………………………………...…….
17
Figure 4:
Gaza electricity demands/supply in Gaza………..…………………………...….
19
Figure 5:
Wastewater discharge points to the shoreline region of Gaza Strip……………..
34
Figure 6:
Import of ‘dual use’ items related to water, sanitation and hygiene over time….
36
Table of Tables
No.
Page
Table 1:
Reconstruction/repair status of the damaged building in Gaza……….........
11
Table 2:
Population Growth and density between 2012 and 2020……………...……
18

Gaza Situation Analysis
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Abbreviations
CBR
Community Based Rehabilitation
CDSG
communicable disease surveillance guidelines
CMWU
Coastal Municipalities Water Utility
GDP
Gross domestic product
GoI
Government of Israel
GPP
Gaza Power Plant
GRM
Gaza Reconstruction Mechanisms
HRW
Human Rights Watch
ICRC
International Committee of the Red Cross
IDPs
Internally Displaced People
IEC
Israeli Electrical Company
IMF
International Monetary Fund
INGOs
international non-governmental organizations
l/p/d
Liter per Person per day
MCM
Million Cubic Meter
MoH
Palestinian Ministry of Health
MoSA
Ministry of Social Affairs
MW
Megawatt
NFI
Non-Food Item
NGOs
Non-Governmental Organizations
NIPH
Norwegian Institute of Public Health
NORG
National Office for the Reconstruction of Gaza
NRC
Norwegian Refugee Council
OPD
Out-patient department
OPT
Occupied Palestinian Territory
PA
Palestinian Authority
PCBS
Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics
PHC
Primary Health Care
PHC
Primary Health Care
PNIPH
Palestinian National Institute of Public Health
PWA
Palestinian Water Authorities
PWDs
persons living with disabilities
TSCA
subsidies cash assistance
UNCT
United Nations Country Team
UNDP
United Nations Development Programme
UNEP
United Nations Environmental Programme
UNFPA
United Nations Population Fund
UNHSP
United Nations Human Settlements Programme
UNICEF
United Nations Children's Emergency Fund
UNOCHA
United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
UNRWA
United Nations Relief and Works Agency
UNSCO
United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process
UXO
unexploded ordnances
WASH
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene
WHO
World Health Organization
WWTPs
wastewater treatment plants