The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on Friday warned of the serious repercussions of the power crisis in the besieged Gaza Strip which mainly affects the health and education sectors.
OCHA said in a report that power supplies are critical to the provision of basic services related to health water sanitation and education in the Gaza Strip where two million Palestinians live.
The UN organization added that humanitarian agencies to maintain the provision of basic services try to provide emergency fuel funded by donors to keep vital life-saving facilities operating. However OCHA asserted the available funds cover less than 40% of the minimal basic needs during 2018.
The report documented the demolition of 20 Palestinian structures in the West Bank which led to the displacement of 18 Palestinians 10 of whom are children and the destruction of the sources of income for 70 others. Five of the demolished buildings are located in Area C while 15 are located in Jerusalem.
OCHA also documented attacks by Israeli settlers in which 16 Palestinians were injured and Palestinian property lost or damaged in the West Bank. Four of the incidents occurred in Einabus and Asira al-Qibliya villages in Nablus reportedly by settlers from Yitzhar Bracha and their surrounding outposts
OCHA’s report noted that settler violence has been on the rise since the beginning of 2018 with a weekly average of six attacks compared to an average of three in 2017 and two in 2016.
