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Fuel Crisis Paralyzes 85% of the Transportation Sector and 50% of
Education and Health Services
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights
14 April 2008
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A girl sits in the trunk of a car beside two gas cylinders
which are used as an alternative to fuel after Israel
totally stopped importing fuel to the Gaza strip, 13 April
2008. (Wissam Nassar/MaanImages)
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PCHR is extremely
worried about the continued Israeli ban on fuel supplies required for
civilian life in the Gaza Strip. The stoppage in fuel supplies has led
to paralyzing 50% of the educational sector as half the students in all
educational levels were unable to reach their schools and universities.
In addition, educational sector employees have been unable to reach
their work. Furthermore, the transportation sector has nearly stopped
functioning throughout the Gaza Strip. As a result all basic functions
of civilian life have come to a near standstill, including drinking
water delivery, sewage water disposal, and garbage collection. In
addition, healthcare facilities registered a 25% drop in clients due to
the transportation crisis. Furthermore, hundreds of healthcare
professionals were unable to reach their work places.
On 9 April 2008,
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) stopped the flow of the heavily reduced
fuel supplies to the Gaza Strip. As a result, the humanitarian situation
hit hard by continuous collective punishment since 15 June 2006,
deteriorated even further.
PCHR’s monitoring
indicates that the Gaza Strip has become a ghost town, especially in the
morning and in the afternoon. Approximately 145 fuel stations shut down;
and all suppliers of fuel and gas shut down due to the total lack of
supplies. Local sources indicate that the transportation sector is
operating at 15% capacity, including public and private transportation.
The civilian population is finding it extremely difficult to reach
places of work, study, and even healthcare facilities.
The educational
sector is the hardest hit by the fuel crisis. Absenteeism in schools and
universities varied from 20-50% since last Saturday, especially in Gaza
City that houses most schools and universities. The Islamic University,
Al-Azhar University, Al-Aqsa University, and Al-Quds Open University
registered 30-55% absenteeism. The Islamic University stated that
yesterday 60% of its 19000 students and 600 faculty members were absent
due to their inability to reach the university. Al-Azhar University
stated that absenteeism of their students (19000) climbed from 30% on
Saturday to 40% on Sunday, and 55% on Monday morning. Al-Aqsa University
suspended studies starting today till Thursday due to 50% absenteeism of
students (14000) and staff.
Approximately 50%
of the 6000 students in Al-Aqsa University branch in Khan Yunis were
absent today; and 10% of the staff members were not able to come to
work. Approximately 1000 students were absent from the Islamic
University branch in Khan Yunis. And in the same city, 30% of the
students were absent in Al-Quds Open University.
On the school
level, thousands of students and teachers were unable to reach their
schools. Absenteeism ranged from 10-30% of the total number of school
students of 448000. UNRWA schools in the eastern part of Khan Yunis
registered 30% absenteeism (10500 students). A school in El-Qarara to
the north of Khan Yunis closed due to the absence of a large number of
teachers. Dar El-Arqam private school in Gaza announced a 3-day
suspension of school since the school’s buses ran out of fuel.
The Ministry of
Health announced that most ambulances have stopped due to lack of fuel.
In addition, the Ministry announced that it has started using its
limited fuel reserve to operate health centers and important equipment.
The Ministry warned that the expiry of this small reserve will paralyze
the health sector and the remaining operational ambulances; thus
depriving civilians of minimum healthcare services. In addition,
hospitals and medical centers in the Gaza Strip are suffering from the
absence of staff due to their inability to reach their workplaces. As a
result, the operation of these institutions is threatened at a time of
escalated Israeli military activity inside the Gaza Strip.
In Light of this
situation, PCHR affirms that the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip is a
form of collective punishment and reprisal action by IOF against
Palestinian civilians. These crimes are a violation of International
Humanitarian Law, including the Fourth Geneva Convention (1949), and
International Human Rights Law, especially the Covenant on Economic,
Social, and Cultural Rights and the Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights.
PCHR reiterates
the call to the international community, especially the High Contracting
Parties of the 4th Geneva Convention (1949), to break their
silence and pressure Israel to uplift the siege and suffering of the 1.5
million civilians living in the Gaza Strip. The Centre calls for
pressuring Israel to allow the immediate and safe passage of basic needs
to the Gaza Strip including fuel, food, and medical supplies. The Centre
reminds these parties of their legal obligation to ensure the respect of
International Humanitarian Law and International Human Rights Law.
http://www.pchrgaza.org/files/PressR/English/2008/32-2008.html
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