24
hour reports by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA)
Due to
the dramatic escalation in violence over the past few days and the
massive assault on Gaza, UNRWA has declared an emergency in all five
areas of the Gaza Strip. It is closely monitoring the situation and
stands ready to mount an emergency response should that become
necessary. The priority for the Agency has now shifted to emergency
operations, providing assistance to those who have been displaced and
sought shelter in UNRWA schools, while attempting to continue regular
operations. Urgent funding needs persist and are increasing
Key
parts:
“Nothing
and nobody is safe in Gaza. To date,
seven UNRWA staff members were killed. This morning,
for at least the sixth time, one of UNRWA’s emergency shelters has
been struck. In accordance with international law, including the
1946 Convention on Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations,
United Nations operations, personnel and premises must remain
inviolable. There are limitations to UNRWA’s capacity to continue
operations amid these conditions. Under International Humanitarian
Law, Israel, as the Occupying Power of the Gaza Strip, bears the
primary responsibility for ensuring the protection of the Palestinian
civilian population and ensuring that their basic needs are met. ”
“Since
last night, over 200,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) are
sheltered in 85 UNRWA schools. Whereas UNRWA staff have worked
round the clock in this unprecedented crisis, with inadequate
resources and in an increasingly deteriorating security environment,
UNRWA does not have infinite capacity to absorb an increasing IDP
influx. The remaining empty UNRWA school buildings are either
inaccessible or unsafe, and other shelter solutions, for example
tents, are not viable options for Gaza. With the current
escalation entering its fourth week, there is a very real fear of a
public health disaster through a disease outbreak given the lack of
proper water and sanitation facilities in the designated shelters.
It is also becoming increasingly unlikely the new school year will
start on 24 August.”
“To
date, the total number of Palestinian deaths reported by the UN
stands at 1,130. This figure has risen by 24 compared to that
reported in the previous 24 hour period. The number of
wounded, as reported by the Ministry of Health, has reached 7,150.
According to various media outlets, the
number of Israeli casualties is 53 soldiers and 3 civilians.”
“Past
24 hours: Last night witnessed particularly heavy shelling in the
North. In the early morning of 30 July, an
UNRWA school in Jabalia that sheltered about 3,300 people was
shelled, resulting in multiple deaths and injuries.
Initial investigations suggest that it was Israeli artillery that hit
the school. In his statement, UNRWA Commissioner General Pierre
Krähenbühl condemned the attack: 'We have visited the site and
gathered evidence. We have analysed fragments, examined craters and
other damage. We believe there were at least three impacts. It is
too early to give a confirmed official death toll. These are people
who were instructed to leave their homes by the Israeli army. The
precise location of the Jabalia Elementary Girls School and the fact
that it was housing thousands of internally displaced people was
communicated to the Israeli army seventeen times, to ensure its
protection; the last being at ten to nine last night, just
hours before the fatal shelling.'”
“It
is at least the sixth time an UNRWA emergency shelter was struck.
There is widespread fear amongst the displaced and UNRWA staff about
the deteriorating security environment. Gazans feel that there is no
safe place in the entire Gaza Strip, and that not even the UN can
protect them.”
“Also
in Jabalia on 29 July, a staff member was killed when driving in an
UNRWA vehicle. Earlier that day, two UNRWA staff members died when an
explosive projectile struck a private home in Nuseirat. UNRWA is
deeply saddened to have lost seven staff members since 7 July 2014.”
“Gaza’s
sole power plant shut down after being hit and damaged. The repair is
going to take up to a year, thus dramatically exacerbating the Gazan
electricity crisis. OCHA reported that following the damage of
the power plant, Gaza City is receiving electricity for about two
hours a day, while localities in the Middle Area have no supply at
all. The destruction of the Gaza power plant will impact private
households, companies and public services provision, including water,
sanitation and health facilities. Facilities need to rely on
generators, which are both costly and are fire hazards. Moreover,
there is reportedly no fuel available on the local market.”
“Before
the conflict, UNRWA, based on historical patterns, planned to deal
with 35,000 to 50,000 displaced people in its installations. UNRWA
has exceeded its anticipated number of displaced four times over.”
“Reportedly
there were 56 rockets and 38 mortar shells fired towards Israel.
There were also reports that 137 missiles were fired into Gaza in
addition to 97 navy shells. The IDF – inside Gaza or
positioned at the border – fired 822 tank shells in to populated
areas. Reportedly, 43 houses were bombarded.”
“Four
additional UNRWA installations were reported damaged during this
period, all of them schools. An estimated 101 UNRWA installations
have been damaged since 1 June, 2014, many of them on multiple
occasions. UNRWA is still to verify this number when the security
situation allows.”
Full
Report:
__________________________
Not
a single doubt anymore that Israel proceeds in an ethnic cleansing
operation.
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