Oxfam: first week of Israeli government and Hamas unilateral ceasefires

Headlines The government of Israel adopted a unilateral ceasefire at 2am on 18 January, Hamas announced its own unilateral ceasefire twelve hours later. Following the unilateral ceasefires people were able to return to their home neighborhoods and begin searching the rubble of destroyed buildings. Sporadic shooting from Israeli forces during the week led to a further 5 Palestinian deaths and 6 injuries. There were no Israeli casualties during the week. It was reported that 2 Palestinian farmers were killed during 4 separate incidences of Israeli fire from the border. It was reported that Israeli naval vessels fired on Palestinian fishermen in three separate incidents resulting in 1 injury to a fisherman and 4 to Palestinian civilians close to the shore There are no reliable statistics on displaced people in Gaza. The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics estimates 4,000 homes were destroyed and 17,000 damaged. This suggests a range of between 40,000 and 210,000 people displaced. According to OCHA (25 January), less than 500 displaced people are sheltered in youth centres as a temporary measure, while many more are staying with relatives or other families causing additional strain on scarce food and water resources, blankets and space. The work of clearing the rubble of destroyed buildings and recovering bodies is made more difficult by the dangers of unexploded ordinance (UXO). OCHA reports a mine action team has been carting out a situation assessment and delivering training and UNICEF have distributed 75,000 leaflets and have aired radio information spots in Gaza. Humanitarian supplies are coordinated and handled by the UN logisctic Cluster who provide support to UN and NGOs bringing humanitarian supplies into Gaza. Services are provided on a cost recovery basis. Details are available from their website http://www.logcluster.org/ Humanitarian supplies arriving in Egypt are coordinated at El Arish port and transported through the El Aouga-Nitzana crossing 90 km south of Kerem Shalom. The UN humanitarian logistics cluster liaises with Egyptian authorities and the Egyptian Red Crescent. 7 day’s notice is required before humanitarian goods can be received, storage facilities at El Arish are limited to 1000 pallets and truck load numbers crossing El Aouga-Nitzana are 33 per day three days a week. Medical supplies are handled separately from other humanitarian supplies. By 24 January, health services in the Ministry of Health clinics had fully resumed, including for immunization, antenatal care and the management of chronic diseases services as well as casualties of the Israeli military operation. Hospitals are still having to cope with intermittent electricity supplies and restricted access to fuel for back up electricity generators. UNRWA schools that had been used as shelters for displaced people during the bombardment and ground fighting re-opened as schools on 24 January....

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Illustration of Dilsa Demirbag's opinions (board member of Swedish Red Cross)

see more on http://forumforfrihet.blogspot.com/2009/01/dilsa-i-underlandet.html
Dilsa i underlandet
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AFGHANISTAN: UNAMA raps new report by rights watchdog

AFGHANISTAN: UNAMA raps new report by rights watchdog
KABUL, 22 January 2009 (IRIN) - A spokesman of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has dismissed recommendations to the UN and other international actors by the Afghanistan Rights Monitor (ARM), a new Kabul-based rights watchdog, as "superficial and deeply uninformed".
The ARM report criticises the UN and international aid agencies for their alleged inability to reach and assist needy communities, particularly in insecure areas.
"Whilst millions of people desperately needed humanitarian assistance. the UN and other aid agencies were entrenched in diminishing security zones in Kabul and a few other cities," ARM said.
ARM called on the UN to maintain its neutrality, reach and assist people in volatile areas, and improve accountability and transparency in the disbursement of international funds.
However, Dan McNorton, a UNAMA spokesman, strongly rejected the criticisms of UN agencies.
"The report has overlooked our regional and provincial presence; the thousands of road missions conducted every year; the immunisation programmes for millions of people; the assistance to millions of returnees; the winter pre-positioning of 34,000 tonnes of food; the disaster relief operations; and major work with communities across the country," he said, adding that the UN had a country-wide footprint.
Civilian deaths underestimated?
The ARM report also said that in 2008 the number of civilians killed or displaced was higher than reported by the media or international organisations.
"About 3,917 civilians were killed, over 6,800 were wounded and around 120,000 were forced out of their homes in 2008," said the report, The Plight of Afghan Civilians in 2008.
ARM figures on civilian deaths are higher than those from the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) and the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), which also track the impact of conflict on civilians.
Insurgents loyal to the Taliban killed over 2,300 civilians, mostly in indiscriminate and disproportionate armed attacks, and over 1,500 civilians were also killed in counter-insurgency operations by Afghan and international forces, the report said.
The AIHRC puts the number of civilian deaths as a result of armed hostilities in 2008 at around 1,800. "About 1,000 civilians were killed by the Taliban and the rest were killed by Afghan and international forces," AIHRC spokesman Nader Nadery told IRIN on 21 January.
In September UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon reported about 1,300 conflict-related civilian deaths between January and the end of July 2008.
ARM accused all sides of "repeated and systematic" violations of international humanitarian law, the Geneva Conventions and Afghanistan's laws applicable to war situations.

Israelis shell hospitals and UN HQ

Israel's bombing of the UN compound in Gaza has outraged UN chief Ban Ki-moon [AFP]
Three hospitals and a UN compound have been bombed by Israel as troops continue to advance into the densely-populated Gaza City.
Around 500 people were sheltering in the Al-Quds hospital in the city's southwestern Tal Al-Hawa district when it was bombed by Israeli jets and set ablaze on Thursday morning.
Hospital officials said the fire was sparked by a "phosphorus shell".
"We have been able to control the fire in the hospital but not in the administrative building," one hospital official said.
"We hope that the flames don't spread again to the wings of the hospital."
Two hospitals east of Gaza City were also hit by Israeli shells as Gazans fled tanks advancing into the city.
It was no immediately clear if any casualties following the raids.
UN fire 'still raging'
IN DEPTH

The Israelis also bombed a UN compound in Gaza City, setting fire to warehouses of badly-needed food and medical aid and prompting international outrage.
Around 700 Palestinians were sheltering in the UN complex at the time of the strikes which left two civilians and three staff members injured.
Adnan Abu Hasna, a spokesman for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (Unrwa), said fires were still raging hours after the attack and "tens of millions of dollars worth of aid" had been destroyed.
John Ging, the director of Unrwa operations in the Strip, also accused the Israelis of using phosphorus shells.
"They are phosphorus fires so they are extremely difficult to put out because, if you put water on, it will just generate toxic fumes and do nothing to stop the burning," he said.
Israel insists all weapons used in the conflict comply with international law.
Unrwa officials said they would evacuate the complex.
'Investigation needed'
Ehud Olmert, the Israeli prime minister, justified shelling the UN headquarters claiming armed Palestinians within it had fired at Israeli troops first.
"It is absolutely true that we were attacked from that place … but the consequences were very sad and I apologise for it," he said.
"There were no militants in our compound and... [the Israelis] are changing their story saying militants were 'in the vicinity'"
Christopher Gunness, Unrwa spokesmanHowever, Christopher Gunness, a spokesman for Unrwa, robustly denied that Palestinian fighters were among refugees sheltering there.
"At no stage during the fighting today did any Israeli official pick up the phone and tell us there were militants in our compound.
"We always take action against militants ... there were no militants in our compound and now they [the Israelis] are changing their story, saying militants were 'in the vicinity'," he said.
Gunness called for a "proper investigation" into the incident.
Louis Michel, the European Aid Commissioner, also condemned the bombing of the UN complex, branding it "unacceptable".
"I am deeply shocked and dismayed to learn of this incident ... I have made it very clear that all sides must respect international humanitarian law.
"It is unacceptable that the UN headquarters in Gaza has been struck by Israeli artillery fire," he said.
Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary general, strongly condemned the incident and demanded a full explanation from Tzipi Livni, the Israeli foreign minister, during talks held on Thursday in Tel Aviv.
Ban said Ehud Barak, the Israeli defence minister, had apologised for the attack describing it as a "grave mistake".
A Red Crescent office near Gaza City and the main mosque in the southern city of Rafah were also shelled as the Israelis pushed deeper into the Strip.
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More than 200 lives lost since UN call for ceasefire

More than 200 lives lost since UN call for ceasefire aid agencies say Three hour lull in fighting will not redress the full-blown humanitarian crisis - only an immediate ceasefire will helpA group of leading international aid agencies today said that more than 200 lives have been lost since the UN passed its binding resolution stipulating an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and Israel which was dismissed by the conflicting parties. The agencies called on both parties to end the killings and heed Ban Ki Moon’s appeal – as he arrives in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory - for an immediate ceasefire that will end the civilian suffering and endangerment and allow local and international aid agencies to provide desperately needed relief safely and without impediment. The international community must throw its full weight behind Ban Ki Moon’s efforts and ensure that the UN resolution is promptly enforced. Since the UN Security Council called for a ceasefire on 8th January there have been: More than 200 people killed More than 1,300 people injured Three hospitals hit by the bombing “Putting an end to violence and civilian casualties is not a option, it is an obligation”, says Charles Clayton, Nation Director for World Vision Jerusalem. “We cannot stress enough that the current situation in the Gaza Strip needs to be addressed without further delay. Too many people have died already.” The agencies – Save the Children, Oxfam International, World Vision Jerusalem, Christian Aid, CARE International – added that the three-hour ‘lull’ in the fighting, which is now only restricted to Gaza City, detracts attention away from the immediate need to reach a durable ceasefire that would allow aid agencies to carry out much needed humanitarian work throughout the Gaza Strip, including reaching communities that have been completely cut off by the conflict. The slim window of time each day is not nearly enough to address the dire humanitarian situation on the ground. Moreover, some fighting usually continues during the ‘lulls’ so humanitarian workers and the civilian population risk their lives moving around the Gaza Strip. “With shelters overflowing, food shortages, inadequate facilities and the general sense of panic and abandonment felt, we must be allowed to sufficiently assist the needy population of the Gaza Strip at once”, says David Bourns, Country Director for Save the Children.

UN -There were no militants in the building. 40+ Killed in Israeli Strike on Gaza School Sheltering Refugees

40+ Killed in Israeli Strike on Gaza School Sheltering Refugees
In the deadliest attack since Israel launched its assault on Gaza twelve days ago, up to forty-two Palestinians died on Tuesday after Israel fired mortars at a United Nations school that was sheltering Palestinians who had been forced to flee their homes. Fifty-five Palestinians were also wounded in the attack. Doctors said all of the victims were civilians, including many children. Christopher Gunness of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency ses there were no militants in the building.


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Gaza hospitals on the brink of collapse as Israeli offensive continues

Gaza hospitals on the brink of collapse as Israeli offensive continues Civilian casualties mount as talks on ceasefire hit political obstacles Tens of thousands of families under siege in Gaza are facing desperate conditions as mounting civilian casualties swamp a hospital system that is close to collapse, international aid agency Oxfam warned today. The conflict is also preventing the highly inadequate amount of aid trickling into Gaza from reaching families trapped by the fighting, the agency said, but international efforts to achieve a ceasefire are being obstructed by political positioning of various parties.. “Doctors working in Gaza’s hospitals say they’ve been swamped by casualties but lack essential drugs, medicines, medical equipment, and spare parts. Several paramedics have also been killed after coming under tank and artillery fire. A number of clinics have been forced to close because of clashes nearby,” said Oxfam Great Britain’s Country Director in Jerusalem, John Prideaux-Brune. “Additionally, hospitals are struggling to function because of round-the-clock power cuts. Fuel for back-up generators is now dangerously low. Scores of patients in intensive care face certain death if those generators stop. Yesterday, generators at Ministry of Health ambulance stations, vaccine stores, labs and warehouses shut down temporarily after running out of fuel,” he said. The UN has managed to deliver food to some hospitals and southern areas in the past few days but has had to cancel distributions elsewhere. Similarly, a small amount of fuel has been trucked into the Strip recently but clashes have prevented distribution to most of those who need it. “Many families who need vital supplies such as food and water are simply too frightened to leave their homes,” said Prideaux-Brune. “Other families are just keeping their heads down and some are able to move about locally – but their conditions can change at any moment as we’ve seen when shells have fallen on busy market places.” Moreover, the Israeli ground offensive has cut the densely populated Gaza Strip into at least two sections. This has cut these areas off from each other, blocked the transport of injured people and medical supplies, and prevented access to the few border crossings that are intermittently open. Oxfam welcomes diplomatic efforts by regional and international leaders to encourage a ceasefire but is concerned that time is being wasted by political positioning and finger-pointing. “Every day that passes without a truce is costing innocent lives. Foreign diplomats, governments and parties to the conflict must stop wasting time apportioning blame, and give priority to humanitarian imperatives over political objectives,” said Prideaux-Brune. Oxfam is calling for a binding UN Security Council resolution to demand: an immediate halt to violence in Gaza and Israel by all parties, all parties to commit to an immediate, comprehensive and permanent truce, Israel, Hamas and other parties to do all in their power to permit immediate and unhindered access to and from Gaza for humanitarian and commercial goods, and for people, thereby ending the blockade.

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Oxfam-Aambulance destroyed in Israeli shelling in Gaza

Oxfam supported health worker killed and ambulance destroyed in Israeli shelling in Gaza, Israeli offensive puts families’ and aid workers’ lives at risk, Oxfam warns A paramedic working for an Oxfam funded organisation was killed when an Israeli shell struck a civilian ambulance in Gaza today according to international agency Oxfam. The tragedy illustrates the deadly dangers faced by Palestinian civilians and aid workers, said the agency. Another paramedic lost his foot and a driver was injured in the same incident, which occurred when an ambulance belonging to Oxfam’s partner organisation, Union of Health Work Committees, was hit while trying to evacuate an injured person in the Beit Lahiya area, Oxfam said. The UN estimates over 100 civilians have been killed in Gaza over the past week although some other organisations believe the civilian death toll is significantly higher.“The incident shows yet again that trying to fight a military campaign in the densely populated streets and alleys of the Gaza Strip will inevitably lead to civilian casualties. There are no safe areas and Gazans who want to flee the fighting have been prevented from leaving the Strip,” said Oxfam GB Country Director John Prideaux-Brune in Jerusalem.The Israeli ground offensive into Gaza, which began on Saturday following a week of heavy bombardment by land, sea and air, is preventing urgently needed supplies of medicine, food, water, and fuel from reaching one and a half million Palestinian women, men and children, Oxfam said.“Hospitals in Gaza are overflowing with dead and wounded while facing severe shortages of essential medical supplies and spare parts. Oxfam and local partners have had to suspend all our work, apart from emergency medical aid. Many of our colleagues in Gaza are trapped in their homes, and in fear of their and their families’ lives. Others, such as the paramedic Arafa, have lost their lives trying to save others.“The trickle of humanitarian aid that Israel has sometimes allowed in through one border crossing at Kerem Shalom has been completely inadequate to meet the needs of 1.5 million people – 80% of whom are reliant on this aid. Since the start of the Israeli ground offensive, even that trickle has dried up. An immediate ceasefire is urgently needed to allow essential aid to reach those families who need it,” added Prideaux-Brune.Oxfam is calling for a binding UN Security Council resolution to demand: an immediate halt to violence in Gaza and Israel by all parties, all parties to commit to an immediate, comprehensive and permanent truce, Israel, Hamas and other parties to permit immediate and unhindered access to and from Gaza for humanitarian and commercial goods, and for people, thereby ending the blockade.Oxfam is also calling on the European Union to suspend the EU-Israel upgrade process until there is a comprehensive ceasefire in Gaza, and Israel provides unimpeded humanitarian access.
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