VZCZCXRO4927
OO RUEHROV
DE RUEHJM #0117/01 0121738
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 121738Z JAN 09
FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3825
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 000117 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE AND NEA/IPA, PRM FOR PRM/ANE; NSC FOR 
PASCUAL/PRATT; PASS TO USAID FOR 
KUNDER/MCCLOUD/BORODIN/NANDY/LAUDATO 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON EAID PHUM KWBG ETRD IS
 
SUBJECT: GAZA HUMANITARIAN UPDATE - JANUARY 12 
 
REFS: A) Jerusalem 111, B) Tel Aviv 64 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary.  Kerem Shalom was open for shipments on January 
¶12.  All trucks moved through Kerem Shalom on January 11.  UNRWA 
contacts reported that they are operating 36 shelters for 28,116 
displaced people.  Contacts reported thousands more displaced 
outside shelters.  End Summary. 
 
Crossings 
---------------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) January 12:  Kerem Shalom crossing was open for an 
estimated 100 humanitarian and commercial shipments.  Rafah crossing 
was open to a limited amount of aid supplies and medical cases.  The 
Nahal Oz fuel transfer station was closed. 
 
¶3. (SBU) OCHA contacts report that the GOI will no longer allow 
trucks to enter Kerem Shalom from the Israeli side of the crossing 
if trucks are not available and ready to load the cargo on the 
Palestinian side.  This measure is designed to alleviate congestion 
on the Gaza side of the crossing, but may also slow shipments. 
 
¶4. (SBU) January 11:  OCHA and UNRWA contacts confirmed 94 
truckloads (including 56 for humanitarian aid agencies) entered 
Kerem Shalom.  A total of nine truckloads of humanitarian supplies, 
mostly from Saudi Arabia, entered via Rafah crossing.  WHO reported 
that 18 medical evacuees exited via Rafah.  Press sources and UNRWA 
contacts reported that approximately 25 Arab doctors (Egyptians and 
Jordanians) entered Gaza through Rafah crossing in recent days.  All 
five truckloads of USAID goods made it through Kerem Shalom on 
January 11, despite earlier reports that only three got through. 
 
Internal Movement 
--------------------- 
 
¶5. (SBU) UN contacts confirmed a "humanitarian pause" occurred from 
1000 to 1300 local on January 12.  UNRWA contacts reported that more 
Gazans appear to be coming out of their homes during these periods, 
but also that inconsistent timing and lack of coordination has 
prevented aid agencies and Gazans from taking full advantage of the 
"pauses."  There are also reports of continued fighting during the 
"pauses."  WHO contacts noted that there are fewer reported injury 
cases arriving in hospitals during these periods.  UN contacts note 
that aid agencies must coordinate convoys with the IDF well in 
advance and run them throughout the day, making the "pauses" less 
relevant to their movements. 
 
Food 
---- 
 
¶6. (SBU) UN agencies plan to step up efforts to reach a greater 
number of beneficiaries.  WFP Regional Director Daly Belgasmi 
reported that WFP plans to expand food distribution from 265,000 to 
365,000 non-refugee recipients.  (Note:  WFP has only been able to 
distribute food to 80,000 recipients since hostilities began. End 
Note.)  UNRWA also reported January 12 that it plans to expand food 
aid beyond the current 750,000 refugee beneficiaries.  Seven of 
UNRWA's 10 distribution sites were open on January 12.  (On January 
11, UNRWA and WFP distributed food to approximately 21,000 
beneficiaries.  UNRWA reported that critical distribution sites in 
Zaitun, Jabalia, Beit Hanoun, and Sabra were closed on January 11 
because of IDF operations.) 
 
Displacement/Shelter 
-------------------- 
 
¶7. (SBU) Private sector contacts reported on January 12 that 
"hundreds of families" from northern Gaza have come to live with 
family members in Gaza City over the last three days.  They feel 
more secure in Gaza City and are closer to food supplies, according 
to those contacts.  The number of displaced people living with host 
families is unknown, but UN reports indicate the number is likely to 
be in the tens of thousands.  OCHA contacts noted an estimate by the 
Al Mezan Center for Human Rights that 80,000-90,000 people have been 
displaced, half of whom are children. 
 
¶8. (SBU) UNRWA contacts reported that, UNRWA is operating 36 
shelters for 28,116 displaced people.  According to UNRWA, its 
shelters are overcrowded and have shortages in blankets, mattresses, 
hygiene kits, and generators.  UNRWA plans to open new shelters in 
northern Gaza to decongest existing shelters. 
 
Power 
----- 
 
 
JERUSALEM 00000117  002 OF 002 
 
 
¶9. (SBU) The Gaza power plant is producing 32 MW of electricity, 
according to the plant manager.  He said that the plant received a 
shipment of 210,000 liters of industrial fuel on the morning of 
January 12 and that it has sufficient fuel to produce 32 MW through 
January 15.  OCHA contacts reported that 70 percent of Gaza City is 
still without electricity because of damage to the local network. 
The power supply to the rest of Gaza is intermittent.  As of 1700 
local on January 11, three Israeli feeder lines (near Jabalia, Khan 
Younis, and Beit Lahiya) were down. 
 
Water and Sanitation 
-------------------- 
 
¶10. (SBU) According to contacts in Gaza's water utility (CMWU), 
approximately 500,000 Gazans had no access to running water.  The 
rest receive water for 4-6 hours no more than every two to three 
days.  CMWU claimed to be waiting for GOI permission to import water 
tanks, pumps, and generators.  In addition, OCHA contacts reported 
that CMWU is having difficulty maintaining its water and wastewater 
services because of damage to the network and difficulties in 
repair. 
 
¶11. (SBU) OCHA reported that the IDF struck the Gaza City wastewater 
treatment plant (containing 250-300,000 cubic meters of wastewater) 
on January 10, damaging a treatment pond embankment and causing 
leakage.  UNRWA and OCHA contacts report that Gaza's sewage pools 
are at their limit, and that the waste needs to be diverted to new 
locations.  ICRC is working with CMWU to coordinate the movements of 
equipment and technicians to re-start the sewage pumps in northern 
Gaza. 
 
Health 
------ 
 
¶12. (SBU) WHO contacts in Gaza said on January 12 that emergency 
rooms in most hospitals are full of patients in need of immediate 
care.  Gaza City hospitals have received several truckloads of 
supplies in recent days, and most ERs seem to have sufficient 
surgical kits.  As of January 12, 15 of 18 primary health centers in 
Gaza were open with a nearly 40 percent increase in patient visits 
compared with pre-December 27 workloads, according to UNRWA. 
According to WHO and ICRC, the health sector's most urgent needs 
continue to be access for staff, medicines, and equipment, along 
with patient referrals outside Gaza. 
 
Cash 
---- 
 
¶13. (SBU) The GOI approved an UNRWA request for a USD 20 million 
shipment of banknotes to Gaza to enable UNRWA to pay employee 
salaries and suppliers.  The Palestinian Monetary Authority (PMA) 
and UNRWA are working out transport arrangements. 
 
¶14. (SBU) Despite January 9 information to the contrary, the GOI has 
not approved the PMA's request o transport NIS 243 million and USD 
6 million inbanknotes to Gaza to pay 94,000 UNRWA hardship cass 
and 77,000 PA salaries.  Banks in Gaza remain cosed due to ongoing 
military operations and the ash shortage. 
 
Walles