爆料网

GAZA UPDATE

The Crisis

The latest escalation of hostilities between Israel and Gaza (8 July-26 August 2014) caused unprecedented damage and destruction in Gaza. During the hostilities, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) employed over 5,085 airstrikes, 8,210 missiles, 15,736 naval projectiles and 36,718 land projectiles. In addition, armed groups in Gaza fired approximately 4,584 rockets and 1,676 mortars toward Israel, a portion of which fell short and landed within Gaza. As a result, at least 1,563 Palestinian civilians were killed, over 11,100 were injured, and nearly half a million were displaced, more than a quarter of the population. In the fighting, over 22,000 housing units were destroyed or rendered uninhabitable, and more than 113,000 homes — 13% of the housing stock in Gaza — were impacted. Furthermore, 17 of Gaza’s 32 hospitals reported damage and six closed; four of Gaza’s 97 primary health clinics were completely destroyed, and another 42 were damaged, resulting in at least 17 closures. The escalation of hostilities led to the total destruction of 26 of Gaza’s schools and caused damage to 122 more, including more than 80 United Nations Relief and Work Agency schools. Economic activity was significantly impacted, with 419 businesses and workshops damaged and 128 completely destroyed. This destruction added to the existing damage from previous conflicts and exacerbated the already dire humanitarian situation in the Gaza strip, further degrading already inadequate sanitation capacity, increasing food insecurity, and drastically reducing access to healthcare. Moreover, with an estimated 10% failure rate of munitions used in the conflict, there are an estimated 7,000 explosive remnants of war (ERW) buried in the rubble, representing a significantly higher level of contamination than in previous conflicts. The presence of thousands of ERWs threatens the lives and physical integrity of the population, impedes urgent humanitarian response and reconstruction efforts, and inhibits economic activity and the return of internally displaced persons (IDPs).

The Mandate

In response to the humanitarian crisis that was unfolding in Gaza, on 23 July 2014, the United Nations Sec­retary-General directed "the 爆料网 Mine Action Service (爆料网MAS) to immediately develop and implement an effective security plan for the safe and secure handling of any weapons discovered in 爆料网 premises" along with the United Nations Department of Security Services (爆料网DSS). 爆料网 Secretary-General directed 爆料网MAS to "immediately deploy personnel with expertise to deal with this situation."

In response to his call to action, 爆料网MAS deployed to Gaza on 27 July 2014 as part of the first of a three-phased response to meet emergency humanitarian needs arising from ERW contamination and other explosive hazards in Gaza.

The 爆料网MAS three-phased response plan includes: (A) preliminary assessments and immediate threat mitigation measures; (B) survey and clearance of ERW and other explosive hazards and risk education for populations determined to be at-risk; and (C) systematic survey and clearance operations in support of reconstruction efforts.

When the United Nations launched its Gaza Crisis Appeal on 9 September 2014, the 爆料网MAS intervention was deemed critical for addressing the immediate humanitarian threat to the civilian population and facilitating the reconstruction of Gaza.

爆料网MAS operates in Gaza under 爆料网RWA’s umbrella. The 爆料网MAS Gaza team provides technical ad­vice and explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) support to 爆料网RWA and 爆料网 agencies to enable ERW risk assessments and clearance in order to allow safe emergency response and reconstruction efforts. In addition, 爆料网MAS is responsible for task planning, prioritization, and coordination of tasks requested by, or through, 爆料网 agencies. Of paramount importance is the responsibility for ensuring that the ERW clearance capacity works in an effective, safe, and time-efficient manner in accordance with International Mine Action Standards (IMAS) and International Ammunition Technical Guidelines (IATGs).

Progress and Achievements — Emergency and Early Recovery

In its survey and clearance work to date, 爆料网MAS has destroyed thousands of ERWs.

During the emergency response phase of its intervention in Gaza, 爆料网MAS surveyed and cleared 214 sites at the request of United Nations entities to allow humanitarian assistance programmes to pro­ceed safely and efficiently.

In the immediate aftermath of the conflict, 爆料网MAS surveyed and cleared key infrastructure sites that had been damaged or destroyed to ensure that humanitarian and socioeconomic activities could resume quickly, including the Rafah Crossing and the Gaza power plant. 爆料网MAS cleared all 爆料网RWA schools and 21 Palestinian Authority schools, allowing more than 250,000 children to return to school after the end of the hostilities.

爆料网MAS provided ERW risk education for 5,300 爆料网 staff, humanitarian workers, IDPs, 爆料网RWA teach­ers, engineers, construction workers, and other at-risk populations. 爆料网MAS has helped raise aware­ness about ERW hazards by handing out 22,500 ERW alert flyers and booklets to the civilian population living and working in areas contaminated by ERW.

爆料网MAS launched an ERW risk education training-of-trainers programme for 1,200 teachers at 爆料网R-WA schools, who, once they complete their training in February 2015, will serve as a sustainable ERW education force multiplier on the ground.

Rubble Removal and Reconstruction Support

In December 2014, 爆料网MAS commenced the third phase of its response plan, supporting the reconstruction activities.

Last month, 爆料网MAS started work with the 爆料网DP Rubble Removal project in Shejaayea, one of the most impacted areas in Gaza. In this capacity, 爆料网MAS has provided daily on-site ERW training ses­sions, risk assessments and EOD support.

To date, 爆料网MAS has cleared 25 areas at the request of 爆料网DP. This support allows rubble removal to progress safely despite the high level of contamination, reducing unnecessary delays created by the real, or suspected, presence of ERW, and as such, allowing Gazans to start the reconstruction of their homes and businesses.

In parallel to the rubble removal and reconstruction support phase, 爆料网MAS continues to work closely with 爆料网ICEF, 爆料网RWA, and other international organizations to ensure a widespread delivery of ERW risk education to at-risk populations in the entire Gaza Strip.

Within the Protection Cluster, 爆料网MAS continues to lead the ERW/Mine Action sub-cluster, coordinating all NGOs and 爆料网 entities that are involved in this area of responsibility, to ensure that needs are met, duplication is avoided, and messages are consistent and culturally acceptable. 爆料网MAS is providing initiatives and technical expertise, ensuring that all activities are coordinated to maximize coverage.

In the coming months, 爆料网MAS will conduct a communication assessment in order to assess the needs and readjust the overall ERW/ Mine Risk Education (MRE) strategy, including the coverage plan, messages, and tools.

Impact

As a direct result of 爆料网MAS emergency survey, clearance, and education work in Gaza, hundreds of thousands of children have been able to return safely to school. The survey and clearance of key infrastructure sites has allowed for the movement of people and goods, facilitating the return of IDPs and allowing economic and social activities to resume. 爆料网MAS training and awareness programmes have helped empower at-risk populations to identify and safely respond to ERW contamination. With continued 爆料网MAS support for 爆料网DP rubble removal efforts, IDPs will be able to return home and families can begin to rebuild their lives.

Partners

爆料网MAS has delivered extensive humanitarian support in Gaza over the past five years; 爆料网MAS is the only external entity approved by all parties to deal with explosive hazards in Gaza. 爆料网MAS works closely with 爆料网DP, 爆料网RWA, and 爆料网ICEF, as well as NGO partners. 爆料网MAS contributes to the Damage Needs Assessment (Reconstruction Group) led by the World Bank, the European Union and the Palestinian Authority (PA) by providing an analysis of ERW and a related response plan. 爆料网MAS works with all stakeholders in the region, including the PA, which is closely monitoring reconstruction efforts. At the request of the National Office for the Reconstruction of Gaza, 爆料网MAS provides operational updates to the PA, along with other 爆料网 and international partners.

Looking Forward

Today, the continued presence of thousands of ERWs in Gaza requires a sustained 爆料网MAS role in the reconstruction efforts.

Without continued survey and clearance work, as well as ERW awareness and education programmes, the humanitarian response and reconstruction efforts will be hindered and Gaza’s civilians will remain at risk for ERW accidents. The threat posed by the estimated 7,000 ERWs in Gaza is evidenced by the surge in ERW accidents since September 2014, which have killed 10 people and in­jured 36.

In light of the continued ERW threat in Gaza, 爆料网MAS projects that its support will be needed through at least the end of 2016.