UN assessments call for urgent repair equipment for water lines

Date: 25 / 01 / 2009  Time:  10:17
Bethlehem - Ma’an/Agencies -

Four water wells in Beit Hanoun, Gaza and Jabalia were totally destroyed during the Israeli war on Gaza, and due to limited building supplies available in Gaza, have not yet been repaired.

According to the de facto government Ministry of Health one fifth of the population of the Gaza strip has no direct access to drinking water and currently depends on water purchased from private suppliers.

Beyond the well damage, the UN office for the coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) there is also damage to several water carriers in Nusairat, Gaza City and Khan Yuonis. This means that while water is available, families must travel, often long distances, to collect water supplies.

The waste water networks in Gaza, Beit Hanoun, Jabalia and Beit Lahia have also sustained serious damage. Repair assessments say urgent need for pipes, cement, pumps, generators, fittings, and aluminum are not being met but are essential to the repair of sewage lines.

Health workers from Oxfam expressed concern earlier this week over water contamination and stressed the need for regular and extensive testing to ensure drinking water is safe.

One of the areas most severely hit was Ash-Sheikh Ijleen, whose sewage plant was struck by a shell early in the war on Gaza. The plant treats the waste 400,000.

Munich rallies in solidarity with Gaza

Date: 25 / 01 / 2009  Time:  09:55
Bethlehem – Ma’an –

More than two thousand people rallied on Saturday in Munich, Germany for the fourth consecutive week protesting the Israeli offensive against the Gaza Strip.

Protestors raised pictures of the destruction left by Israeli warplanes and military tanks in Gaza as well as signs calling for an end to Israeli occupation of Palestine.

Flags of Palestine, Iraq, Turkey and Venezuela were raised during the demonstration alongside signs demanding punishment of those who committed war crimes in the Gaza Strip.

Large numbers of German police officers accompanied the rally in order to avoid clashes, after last week’s events ended in street violence when synagogue patrons raised Israeli flags when marchers passed the building.

Swiss first European delegation to visit Gaza after war; condemn destruction

Date: 25 / 01 / 2009  Time:  09:32
Gaza – Ma’an –

Swiss parliamentarians visited Gaza on Saturday and expressed their shock over the scenes of destruction throughout the Strip.

The Parliamentarians are visiting Gaza after being invited by the Palestinian Legislative Council. The Swiss were also the only European country to support the draft UN resolution from the Human Rights Council that condemned Israel’s “grave human rights violations in the Palestinian territories."

The delegation reinforced their earlier stance during their visit, saying what they saw was evidence of war crimes.

On the assassination of de facto Minister of the Interior Sa’id Siyam, the delegation noted the illegality of assassination for political purposes under international law. They further condemned the assaults on the members of PLC, including the continued detention of PLC speaker Aziz Dweik.

On arriving to Gaza the delegation was received by PLC member Ismail Al-Ashqar of Hamas, and Head of the Committee of Security and Internal affairs in the PLC Salem Salamah. The Gazan leaders expressed their discontent over Europe’s silence over the Gaza war, adding that it “gave Israeli the justification to continue its destruction and war against the Palestinians.”

He demanded the Swiss and European parliaments pressure the international court to ensure Israeli war criminals are brought to a speedy trial.

PLO's Erekat consults with Norway on donor conference, welcomes Mitchell as US envoy

Date: 24 / 01 / 2009  Time:  17:25
Jericho – Ma’an –

Chief PLO negotiator Sa’eb Erekat met Norwegian officials on Friday to discuss an upcoming donor conference in Egypt aimed at raising funds for the reconstruction of Gaza.

Norway is in charge of a network of donor states that will meet in Cairo in February. Erekat met with Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister Raymond Johansen and other officials in the West Bank city of Jericho.

Erekat insisted that Palestinian President Mamoud Abbas aims to form a national unity government which will oversee the reconstruction process and also pave the way for presidential and legislative elections at a time approved by all Palestinian factions.

Erekat also welcomed the appointment of former Senator George Mitchell as US President Barack Obama’s envoy to the Middle East. He recalled Mitchell’s 2001 report which urged Israel to halt all settlement activity including so-called “natural growth,” and further, to remove settlements.

He expressed hope that these recommendations would be a focal point for Mitchell’s work as envoy.

Charitable organizations begin surveying destroyed homes in Gaza

Date: 24 / 01 / 2009  Time:  17:24
Gaza – Ma’an –

Civil society organizations in the Gaza Strip began field surveys to assess damage to homes and civilians done during Israel’s three week onslaught on Gaza.

The survey, which began Friday, was led by the foundation Cooperation Without Limits in association with Gaza for Culture and Development, the Al-Batool Charitable Society and the Al-Shoaka Charitable Society.

The first stage of the survey included walks around the neighborhoods of Al-Tawam, Al-Salateen, Al-Karama, Al-Zaytoon, Al-Shuja’iya, Al-Sha’af and east Rafah.

Local committees have estimated that at least 1,600 families have had their homes partially or completely destroyed.

Director of the foundation Husam Ahmed sent an urgent appeal to donor organizations asking for support. He also suggested a joint committee of civil society organizations be formed in order to set-up a mechanism for distributing aid to families afflicted by the disaster. He offered his help and cooperation for any donor organization, promising statistics and logistical support.

De facto government: Rafah remains closed for Gazans wishing to get out

Date: 24 / 01 / 2009  Time:  14:43
Gaza – Ma’an –

The Rafah crossing is not yet open for Gazans wishing to leave the Strip, said spokesperson of the de facto public administration of crossings Adel Zu’rub on Saturday.

Denying claims that the crossing was opened for those with residency visas for foreign countries and students with study permits for abroad, Zu’rub announced the crossing is only open for travel to those who carry foreign passports, Egyptians or patients.

Following the cessation of violence in Gaza, many families with relatives abroad have been enquiring about permissions to cross into Egypt and put behind them the dire conditions of the Gaza Strip.

“Egypt had refused to allow through [Rafah crossing] those with residency and student visas,” Zu’rub said. So far the only people to leave the Strip have been the injured and 50 foreign journalists.

The crossing is operating at full capacity for goods traveling to Gaza, however, and is ushering through trucks loaded with medications.

“There have been huge efforts” made by the de facto government in Gaza, noted Zu’rub, “to alleviate the situation Gazans are living under by allowing them to move by coordinating with the Egyptian side.”

Minister: War caused 170 million in damage to Gaza farms

Date: 24 / 01 / 2009  Time:  13:27
Gaza – Ma’an –

 Israel’s three week war caused 170 million US dollars in damage to the agriculture sector in Gaza, the Agriculture Minister in the de facto government reported on Saturday.

Agriculture Minister Muhammad Al-Agha said losses could be as high as 200 million from an “agricultural holocaust” committed by Israel during the war.

Al-Agha explained that losses in the livestock sector alone amount to 110 million dollars.

He said 1,000 irrigation wells were destroyed along with, vast areas of vegetable and fruits farms, egg incubators and green houses.

He pointed out that each animal farm cost more than three million dollars, highlighting that his ministry received financial support from several Arab and European countries. However, Al-Agha asserts that the ministry needs special European and international teams to investigate the possible use of depleted uranium, phosphorus, and other substances that could harm agriculture in the long term.

The minister announced that special committees of veterinarians and agriculturalists have been formed to assess the scale of the damage in the agricultural sector in order to eventually help affected farmers.