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Memorandum submitted by UNICEF UK
14 March 2008
Introduction
1. UNICEF United Nations Children's Fund, is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to advocate for the protection of children's rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential.
UNICEF is guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child and strives to establish children's rights as enduring ethical principles and international standards of behaviour towards children.
UNICEF responds in emergencies to protect the rights of children. In coordination with United Nations partners and humanitarian agencies, UNICEF makes its unique facilities for rapid response available to its partners to relieve the suffering of children and those who provide their care.
This submission has been prepared by the UK National Committee for UNICEF.
Occupied Palestinian Territories: critical issues for children
2. The absence of a lasting political solution to the world's longest running conflict remains the single challenge facing the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt), with profound humanitarian consequences for children and women. Beyond violence, most threats to survival and development arise from restrictions to movement and access - whether this translates into healthy births, nutritious food, safe schools; decent health care, or protection from abuse.
3. Although the decades-long occupation and the ongoing war with Israel remain the root to the impoverishment and distress across Palestinian territory, 2007 has witnessed previously unseen levels of violence, division and insecurity within Palestinian society itself. The inter-factional fighting in June 200Z the takeover of the Gaza Strip by Hamas and the resultant political divide between the West Bank and Gaza have resulted in a new and uncertain operational landscape for UNICEF. Repeated interruptions in the provision of social services due to strike action by unpaid civil servants, especially in the West Bank, have also hindered programme implementation. Two years into the Agreement on Movement and Access, there were some 530 obstacles to movement in the West Bank, or more than 40 per cent above the August 2005 baseline (Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, 2007). Gaza remained under virtual siege.
4. While indicators on infant and under-five mortality have changed little since 2000, recent numbers on child and maternal malnutrition are disturbing. In 2006, 1 in 10 children was stunted, with proportions reaching almost 30 per cent in North Gaza. Only 26.5 per cent of infants age 0-5 months were exclusively breastfed. Anaemia prevalence among children and women is above 40 per cent indicative of a public health problem.
5. Palestinians consumed an average of 75 litres of water per capita per day (2006), or half the amount the World Health Organization (WHO) says is needed to drink, cook, clean and bathe. Saline sea water and sewage have seeped into the coastal aquifer in Gaza, and wastewater treatment and solid waste collection are far from adequate. Schools and clinics have inadequate water storage systems and poorly maintained connections to networks. About 66 per cent of the Palestinian population is not connected to a sewerage network and approximately 70 to 80 per cent of the domestic wastewater is discharged into the environment without treatment. In March 200Z an overburdened wastewater treatment plant in Northern Gaza collapsed, killing five people, including two children, and displacing thousands.
6. Primary school gross enrolment ratios have dropped from 96.8 per cent in 2000-01 to 91.2 per cent in 2005-06, and the rise in poverty and unemployment in 2006-07 has put schooling-related costs beyond the reach of many parents. The threat of walkouts by poorly-paid teachers persisted, and morale was extremely low among education professionals. Closures, roadblocks and random checkpoints continued to challenge student and teacher access to schools in the West Bank, while the almost total shutdown in Gaza following clashes in June blocked all education supplies coming for the new academic year. Primary schools in areas hard-hit by the conflict or movement restrictions lack basic teaching materials, library books, laboratory and recreational equipment, and teachers lack the skills needed to make learning enjoyable and productive for children.
7. The conflict-related violence surrounding children has seeped into their homes, schools and play areas. In a Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics study on family violence in 2005-06, half the mothers participating said that their children age 5-17 years had been exposed to one form or another of violence. Children are also reporting extremely high levels of violence in their schools and play areas. While fatalities from the conflict are lower than in 2006 (31 children as of end-July 2007), 26 children died as a result of Palestinian inter-factional fighting. The higher levels of distress have translated into larger numbers of children and families seeking psychosocial support and counselling.
8. Young adolescents are a particularly vulnerable group and are most often exposed to the frontline of conflict and violence. In 2006, almost 70 per cent of the children killed in conflict were adolescents; all the children placed under detention that year were between the ages of 15 and 17. Due to disruptions in schooling related to violence or closures, the number of teens falling two to three grades below their level and eventually dropping out continues to rise. Two out of three adolescents do not have safe spaces to go to for recreation and interaction with their peers, and most have few opportunities for positive and productive play.
Key actions and achievements in 2007
9. In close collaboration with local, national and international partners, UNICEF's humanitarian response focused on health, nutrition, water and sanitation, education, protection, and adolescent development. Key challenges to implementation included the institutional divide within Palestinian authorities; violence related both to the conflict with Israel and internal Palestinian fighting; ongoing public sector strikes by unpaid workers; and restrictions to access and movement.
10. Routine immunisation rates (over 90 per cent) and services have been improved through increased technical and supply assistance to the Ministry of Health and other partners, reaching around 114,000 children under the age of 1 and around 250,000 schoolchildren. Some 24,000 moderately and acutely malnourished children were also provided with nutrition supplies and 600 health workers in about 150 facilities received training on improved childcare practices. UNICEF provided daily drinking water to more than 340 schools and some 40 medical facilities in Gaza, and with partners UNICEF is repairing and improving water and sanitation services and facilities in vulnerable communities in both the West Bank and Gaza. UNICEF provided US$ 1.5 million worth of emergency teaching and learning supplies to many of the oPt's most affected schools and communities, and supported teacher training for more child-friendly approaches, even during emergencies. As of end August, 18 child-friendly spaces had been set up by UNICEF in isolated or conflict-affected areas, providing educational, recreational and counselling services to more than 85,000 vulnerable children and about 42,000 adolescents. Some 13,375 children and 12,365 caregivers have received psychosocial counselling and care through the 14 UNICEF-supported teams across oPt, with rising numbers visiting newly established psychosocial/legal centres or dialling up the 1-800 helpline.
Current situation
11. Facts on the ground and impact between 27 February and 3 March, IAF aircrafts conducted a series of air strikes in various areas of the Gaza Strip, targeting Ministry of Interior buildings, police stations, metal workshops but also suspected militants' cells. In March, the IDF invaded an area east of Jabalia camp (15-20,000 people) triggering a battle with the militants, IDF withdrew from the area on 3 March. Due to the closure, Gaza Strip faces electricity cuts for about 8 hours every day. This affects the four northern districts as follows:
Gaza district - 12 hours North Gaza - 10 hours Khan Younis - 6 hours Middle -4 hours
In Rafah district, thanks to its connection to Egypt, electricity is only interrupted for 4 hours per week. Israeli authorities usually permit the passage of 10,000 litres of petrol in addition to 100,000 litres of diesel per day through Nahal Oz crossing point. A kidnap threat to internationals remains moderate to high. International staff remain on high alert and movements are restricted.
12. Health 122 deaths and 264 injuries as a result of military operations between 27 February and 4 March 2008, of which:
o 28 children and 5 women killed o 60 children and 10 women injured
As a result of the increase in the number of injuries, MoH has announced a shortage of vascular sets and anesthesia instruments, medicine used in ICUs and operating theaters; medical equipments and machines. Blood, renewable medical supplies and fuel.
One PHC clinic in North Gaza Directorate (Abu Shabak Clinic) was unable to function during the incursion, as both staff and patients were kept away by the fighting. There are concerns regarding the validity of the 2 weeks' stock of vaccines (Hepatitis B, 74 doses; IPV, 60 doses; OPV, 100 doses; OPT, 60 doses; DF3T+HIB, 100 doses; and measles, 70 doses) which was not kept at the optimal temperature while electricity was cut and no one was able to operate the generator. MoH is aware of the situation and is testing the vaccines. On 3 and 4 March, 330 children from the affected area visited the clinic (which represents a 60 per cent increase). Parents and children complaints were about fears, insomnia and bedwetting.
13. Water and sanitation For three days, the population under incursion in East Jabalya had no access to water as wells were out of fuel and the electricity was off. Eight transformers have been destroyed during the military operation.
Since 1 February, the Coastal Municipalities Water Utility (CMWU) only received 65,000 litres of fuel or 43 per cent of its monthly needs (minimum 150,000 litres needed month). As a result about 20 per cent of the population access water every other day for a few hours only. However a better access to electricity compared to last week has allowed CMWU to operate its wells longer hours in spite of the limited quantities of fuel available: Since July 2007, the Israeli authorities have denied coordination to all CMWU spare parts and equipments (pipes, valves, water and waste water pumps and electromechanical spare parts) required for the maintenance and up-grading of the networks.
About 40,000 m3 of raw or partially treated sewage are still pumped daily into the sea due to the power cuts. As a result of the lack of maintenance and spare parts, the efficiency of the water network has deteriorated from 70 per cent in June 2007 to 53 per cent today. In order to compensate for this deterioration, CMWU has had to pump water from its wells beyond their capacity in terms of replenishment and water quality. The lack of materiel also exposes the water networks to the risk of contamination by infiltration. In the long term, this increases the likelihood of a negative impact on the population's health.
14. Education Schools in and around the area of the military operation were closed between 1 and 3 March. They reopened on 4 and 5 March, but attendance was limited. In the rest of the Gaza Strip attendance was nil on 2 March; about 40 per cent on 3 March; and 90 per on 4 March.
A Palestinian Authority school for boys with 1,314 students and another for girls with 839 students were the most affected. During the incursion in East Jabalya, 4 students were killed (grades 1, 5, 7 and 9), 4 UNRWA schools ware also affected by the air strikes, and the electrical system was seriously damaged during the fighting.
UNICEF response
15. Health In response to the shortages in equipment and renewable medical supplies in Gaza's hospitals. UNICEF delivered the following items from its emergency stock in Gaza:
o 2 new emergency health kits: basic unit in Rafah (Najar Hospital) and in the middle area (Al Aqsa Hospital) o 1 new emergency health kit in the northern area (Bait Hanoun Hospital) o 2 obstetric surgical kits: in Gaza City (Shifa Hospital) and in Khan Yunls (Nasr Hospital). o 30 first aid kits were also delivered to the NGO Patients Benevolent Friend Society, which is running an ambulance service in Gaza City. o 20 family water kits (200 families) o 35 family hygiene kits (245 persons) o 60 baby hygiene kits are to be distributed to families who have lost their homes in East Jabalya through the Red Crescent. o Procurement of a fuel tank (10,000 litres) for the main pharmacy in Gaza City within 10 days.
16. Water and sanitation UNICEF funds the following in East Jabalya:
o Cleaning the waste water manholes o Repair specific damaged parts in the waste water networks and water networks. o Replacement of about 500 metres of damaged pipes used for water distribution. o On-going provision of drinking water to 220 schools in Gaza, Middle area and PRafah (200,000 children) since 10 February 2008 o A cleaning campaign around 4 pumping stations started on 3 March 2008. o Procurement of 100 boots and 60 suits for workers, 6 mobile fuel tanks (1,000 litres) and 6 fixed fuel tanks (5,000 litres).
11. Education After consultation with counterparts and in order to address the loss endured by families end the lack of supplies, UNICEF is providing 2 schools in East Jabalya with the following items;
o 10 school-in-a-box kits (800 pupils) o 4 outdoor recreational kits (360 pupils) o 100 sets of copybooks o 100 schoolbags
18. Child protection In response to the Jabalya incursion, UNICEF and UNHWA activated the Emergency Mental Health and Psychosocial Group. A coordination meeting was called at central level on 4 March 2008 where the different actors' interventions were discussed in order to avoid duplications and gaps. It was agreed that a common assessment tool will b us d to screen the population and identify individuals and families in need of psychological support. The five organisations - including the Palestinian Centre for Democracy and Conflict Resolution (PCOCR) with a capacity of 20 social workers/psychologists in the affected area - with the resources to deploy staff in schools, community centres and to visit households, started their operations on 6 March. |