Included
below are the key findings of a recent US Agency for International
Development (USAID) assessment of the humanitarian situation in
Palestine. The report, which uses data from the World Bank, the UN
and other groups, warns of an emerging humanitarian crisis.
Please take the time to call your Senators and Representatives
in Congress and urge them to support continued US funding for the
United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) and other financial
assistance to Palestinians. UNWRA is the main provider of basic
services - education, health, relief and social services - to over
3.9 million registered Palestinian refugees in the Middle East. An
attack on UNRWA, which aims to eliminate US funding for the
agency, is being led by Congress’ most virulently
anti-Palestinian members.
President Bush, Secretary of State Powell and some members of
Congress have repeatedly expressed concern over the deteriorating
humanitarian situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
The Administration has stated clearly that for peace to be
achieved the economic situation of Palestinians must be improved.
Eliminating US funding to UNRWA will exacerbate the humanitarian
crisis and will further undermine America’s ability to play a
constructive role in peacemaking efforts.
To find your Representative call the House Switchboard at (202)
225-3121 or visit www.congress.org and search by zip code.
To find your Senators call the Senate Switchboard at (202)
224-3121 or visit www.congress.org and search by zip code.
Key findings of USAID assessment
Chronic and acute malnutrition is widespread among children
under five years of age and increasing rapidly. 30% of children
screened suffered from chronic malnutrition and 21% from acute
malnutrition. These numbers have increased significantly since
2000 when only 7.5% and 2.5% of children suffered from chronic and
acute malnutrition respectively.
Moderate to mild anemia is also evident. 45% of children under
5 years of age and 48% of women of childbearing age suffer from
moderate to mild anemia.
More than 30% of the 3.5 million Palestinians in the West Bank
and Gaza are dependant upon food handouts from the World Food
Program and the ICRC or other NGOs. The number of Palestinians
requiring food assistance is increasing daily. According to USAID
analysis, approximately 50% of all Palestinians (refugee and
non-refugee) require external food assistance to help meet their
minimum daily caloric intake.
Of 320 households surveyed, 50% stated their need to borrow
money to purchase basic foodstuffs, with 16% selling assets for
the same purpose.
The March-April 2002 incursions brought at least a 50% increase
in the number of Palestinian home demolitions since the beginning
of the intifada.
The Palestinian Ministry of Housing reports that approximately
720 homes were destroyed by the IDF and another 11,553 damaged
from September 2000 to February 2002. 73,600 people were affected.
The March-April 2002 incursions destroyed another 881 homes and
damaged some 2,883 houses in refugee camps. An estimated 22,500
people were residents of these homes.
There is increasing risk of communicable disease outbreak. Due
to diminished access to potable water, residence overcrowding, and
inadequate shelter, possible disease outbreak, such as cholera, is
a growing concern.
The medical treatment of Palestinians living in rural
communities, and those with chronic diseases such as renal
failure, diabetes, cancer, and hypertension, has been interrupted
due to access, affordability, and availability-related issues.
According to Palestinian Ministry of Health estimates, births
attended by skilled health workers have decreased from 97.4%, pre-intifada,
to 67% currently. Home deliveries have increased from 3% pre-intifada,
to 30%, at present.
Availability of immunization has decreased.
Interruptions in electricity supply make medical facilities
unable to maintain cold storage and cause vaccines to spoil,
further aggravating growing health concerns. The child
immunization program is breaking down.
According to the World Bank, 70% of Palestinians in the West
Bank and Gaza live below the poverty line of less than $2 per day.
Only 90 days ago, in April 2002, the World Bank estimated 50% of
Palestinians were below the poverty level. The UN defines 62% of
Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza as "vulnerable"
or in need of food, shelter, and/or access to health services.
A USAID environmental health assessment team found that of 300
households surveyed in Nablus, NONE were found to have drinking
water acceptable to international standards. Fecal bacteria often
contaminated water.
The incidence of diarrhea is increasing. This is indicative of
unsanitary living conditions and questionable water supply. USAID
preliminary findings indicate that 30% of the 320 households
interviewed throughout the West Bank and Gaza reported diarrheal
characteristics among at least one of its members during the first
two weeks of June.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health reports that because of
closures and curfews, its facilities operate at about 30%
capacity. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society reported that 25 of
its 121 ambulance fleet were damaged beyond repair by the Israeli
Army.
Curfews and closures cause ambulances to require 6 to 8 hours
on average to transport patients to hospitals, if they obtain
access at all.
In June 2002 USAID found that 28% of the 320 households
interviewed had at least one family member who was not granted
access to needed emergency medical services while 67% of
households reported that access was not granted to at least one
family member who required long-term treatment such as dialysis,
hemotherapy, or diabetes management.
A Bir Zeit University study surveyed 764 households and found
widespread psychological illness. 87% of households reported
psychological difficulties in one or more family members.