Day Six in Gaza - "Humanitarian Situation...Is Dreadful"

by Michael Bear · 2009-01-02 04:32:00 +1100
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[Footage from Gaza today by CCTV]

As Israeli airstrikes continue for a sixth day, the UN estimates the total number of fatalities at between 310 - 390, with an additional 1,500 - 1,800 Palestinians injured.  Palestinian medical officials report that 38 children and 25 women are among those killed.

Beyond civilian casualties, the overall humanitarian situation in Gaza remains bleak. According to a representative with the NGO DanChurchAid:

"The humanitarian situation in Gaza is dreadful. They are out of flour for bread, there's zero stock of medicine and the hospitals have no more room for the wounded."

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) offers a more in-depth look at the situation.  The OCHA Protection of Civilians Weekly Report, 24 - 31 December explains:

"The widespread Israeli airstrikes have severely disrupted humanitarian and relief operations....Increased risks faced by humanitarian aid workers in Gaza conflict zones have been exacerbated by an almost complete collapse of the Gaza police force, exposing humanitarian staff to the threat of violence and looting. As a result of heightened levels of insecurity, some critical humanitarian activities, including food distribution to the poorest households by WFP, have been suspended."

Keep in mind, the situation was verging on catastrophe even before the attacks, as frequent and prolonged Israeli closures of Gaza since early November - in response to Hamas rocket and mortar attacks against southern Israel - had drastically depleted available humanitarian supplies.

That said, Israel has been allowing some supplies into Gaza, even during the attacks.  According to OCHA:

"A total of 218 truckloads carrying mainly food and medical supplies, were allowed entry to the Gaza Strip....The Karni conveyer belt was open on 26 December for the entry of 25 trucks of wheat (nearly 1,000 tonnes) and 18 trucks of animal feed. As of 31 December, nearly 100 truckloads, including 45 of humanitarian supplies, had been expected to arrive into Gaza during the day through Kerem Shalom."

However, Gaza still faces a shortage of wheat and fuel for the electrical plant.

In a rare piece of positive news, the World Health Organization reports that "although healthcare in Gaza had been initially overwhelmed by the large numbers of Palestinian casualties, it remains functional."  Yet even this good news is tempered, as hospitals still remain critically short of necessary supplies.

For its part, Israel claims to be doing what it can to avoid civilian casualties.  As reported in a New York Times article yesterday:

"On the issue of civilian casualties, Israeli officials maintain that they do not take aim at civilians and do everything possible — like using precision-guidance systems, up-to-the minute intelligence, leaflets and phone calls to targeted areas — to avoid hitting them."

For more information on the risks faced by civilians in Gaza, see this New York Times article, and this article in the Christian Science Monitor.  For the most recent UN map showing the attacks in Gaza, see here.

Previous posts on Gaza are available here.

Finally, Informed Comment has been offering excellent analysis and commentary of the overall situation, including an article today by Gitanjali Bakshi - Why Should We Care About Gaza?

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Michael Bear
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