DAILY REPORT ON THE IMPACTS OF THE BLOCKADE ON THE GAZA STRIP
Gaza, 12 Dzulqa’idah 1434/18 September 2013 (MINA) – The Government media office issued a daily report to sum up the impacts of the unjust blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip since 2006 and the influence of the recent procedures taken by Egyptian Authorities on the lives of the Palestinian people living in the Gaza which lead to destroying the tunnels and closing the Rafah border.
Crossings and borders:
The Rafah crossing is still closed in both directions for 7 consecutive days.
4500 passengers including patients, students, holders of foreign passports are stranded at the Palestinian side of the boarder.
The Interior Ministry closed registration for those with foreign residency permits and the sick wishing to travel on their own cost. It said that if registration was opened for those categories then the number of stranded people would jump by thousands.
350 trucks loaded with goods entered Gaza via Karam Abu Salem crossing.; only one truck of fresh spices will be exported to Europe, according to Alray, Palestinian Media agency report monitored by Mi’raj News Agency (MINA).
Health sector and environmental conditions:
Due to fuel shortage, several medical operations and services had stopped since the ministry of health needs 250,000 liters of fuel monthly to operate generators at the hospitals and other medical facilities. Also there is severe shortage of medicine and medical disposables entered to the Gaza Strip from Egypt.
The sewage treatment stations have stopped due to the lack of fuel, so Gaza municipalities are forced to carry away sewage water into the sea.
The municipalities have decreased the six hours of supplying water to the citizens to 3 hours. In addition the municipalities are obliged to get rid of solid wastes in residential places because of the difficulties of getting access to the main landfill in Johr AL-deik.
Moammed Al-Farrah, the Minister of local Government, has warned the percentage of sea water pollution has increased due to carrying away sewage water into the sea.
National Economy
Hatim Awidah, the Deputy minister of National Economy said the cost of living indicator recorded an increase of the prices with the percentage of 25% compared to July 2013, with 65.0% in the West Bank, 61.0% in the Gaza Strip and 21.0% in Jerusalem. The Israeli occupation control of the crossing has a very bad influence on the Palestinian economy.
Only 40% of the Gaza Strip basic need entered via Karem Abu Salem crossing including food, cloths, and other basic consuming materials.
A joint committee formed from Ministry of Transportation and Ministry of National Economy follow up the impacts of fuel crisis.
The Israeli provided the Gaza Strip with only 520 thousands liters of fuel on Sunday via Karem Abu Salem crossing.
Ministry of Transportation distributed quantities of fuel on the taxis and buses according to the priorities, and do its best to guarantee that the prices kept settled .
Ahmed Abu Al-Amrein, the Information Director of the Energy Authority said that the power plant is technically operating without problem, but the shortage of fuel leads to decrease hours of supplying electricity to the Gazans to 8 hour a day.
Transportation sector
The transportation sector has been affected directly from the ongoing crisis of fuel shortage. Dozens of citizens bunch up the streets awaiting for taxis to get to their jobs, schools or universities.
Khalil Al-zayian, the senior official at the Ministry of Transportation, said that because of the fuel crisis more than 20 thousands taxis, 300 buses, 30 thousands private cars, 10 thousands motorcycles and 20 thousands good trucks have stopped operating. The Egyptian authorities prevented the entry of new vehicles and spare parts.
50 thousands of drivers families have been affected indirectly, in addition to that construction sector also was affected and many vital projects have stopped due to difficulty to transport construction materials
Fishing Sector
Palestinian fishing syndicate stated that 80% of fishing sector has affected due to fuel shortage and limited space allowed by Israeli occupation for fishing.
The number of Palestinian fishermen is nearly 3700 fishermen, owning 700 boats. Fishing is the source of living for more than 70,000 citizens.
Other sectors:
The blockade lead to the delay of opening 6 new schools and construction of 20 other schools.
Dozens of blind people face difficulties in moving to their schools.
Prevention of the entrance of school stationary has negative impacts on the new school year.
After the closure of the tunnels between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, which were used to smuggle food, medicines and fuel, crises emerged in all sides of life in the Gaza Strip, according to Middle East Monitor (MEMO) report.
Transportation is among the most heavily affected sectors as thousands of taxis and private cars have run out of fuel and stopped moving.
Gaza residents stand in long queues to wait for taxis to move from place to place: from home to work, school, university, hospital and market.
The Palestinian Ministry of Transportation said that about 30,000 taxis and 20,000 private cars stopped moving because of the severe shortages of fuel.
The sole electricity plant in the Gaza Strip announced several days ago that it might completely stop working within days if the crisis continues. It increased working hours two weeks ago.
The Transportation Ministry called upon Egyptians to allow fuel passing to Gaza and called for the international community to put pressure on Israel to left the siege that has been imposed on the Gaza strip since 2006. (T/P08/E1)
Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)
