News

Gaza, a year later

gazadestruction
A man surveys destroyed homes in Jabaliya, in the north of Gaza. (Photo: Moises Saman for The New York Times)

There are several ways to look at the legacy of the Israeli assault on Gaza last winter. One way is simply to look at the numbers. Two recent reports put the devastating effect of the attacks in perspective.

Mohammad Alsaafin has a useful post over on Kabobfest breaking down the statistics from the recent report from international humanitarian and human rights organizations – "Failing Gaza: No rebuilding, no recovery, no more excuses." After that, the Israeli NGO Gisha looks at the damage wrought by the war and how Israel has, or hasn’t, facilitated reconstruction.

From Mohammad’s summary of "Failing Gaza":

  • Since the assault ended, leaving 15,000 buildings damages and 5,000 completely destroyed, only 41 trucks of construction materials have been allowed to enter Gaza
  • Prior to 2007, and average of 70 truckloads of exports left Gaza everyday. For the past two years, that number has been zero.
  • Only 35 categories of items are allowed into Gaza. That is, only 35 types of products are allowed in to the 1.5 million prisoners.
  • The number of trucks carrying construction materials entering Gaza today is 0.05% of what it was before the blockade. That’s not half a percent-it’s one twentieth of one percent
  • 84% of the damage inflicted during the assault was on housing, agriculture and the private sector, putting to bed any illusions that this war did not target the civilian population.
  • The damage has left 600,000 tons of rubble strewn across Gaza
  • 15,000 homes sustained enough damage displace 100,000 people
  • 2,870 homes need major repair and 3,540 need complete rebuilding; in effect, Israel destroyed 291 homes per day during the war
  • 52,900 homes sustained minor damages
  • 20,000 people remain displaced-some of whom are living in tents in the shadow of the remains of their destroyed homes
  • During the war Israel destroyed 700 private businesses
  • Prior to the war, the siege had led to 98% of Gaza’s industrial operations becoming idle
  • Joblessness in Gaza has now reached 40%
  • 120,000 private sector jobs have been lost since the blockade was imposed
  • Six months before the war, 70% of Gazan families were surviving on less than one dollar a day
  • 17% of Gaza’s farmland was destroyed by Israeli tanks and military vehicles during the war. Four months later Israel announced that it would expand its buffer zone into Gaza even further. Together with the damaged land, the buffer zone has put 46% of Gaza’s agricultural land out of production
  • Over 30 kilometers of water networks were damaged or destroyed during the war; 9 kilometers remain damaged
  • During the war Israel damaged or destroyed 15 hospitals and 41 primary health clinics
  • Israel destroyed 18 schools during the war, and damaged 280 more
  • 230 schoolchildren were killed by Israel during the war

From Gisha:

Funds for Reconstruction:

  • Reconstruction funds pledged at the Sharm el-Sheikh Summit Some $4.5 billion.
  • Number of months international community negotiated with Israeli government over mechanism for transferring reconstruction funds and materials: 9 months.
  • Implementation of mechanism for transferring reconstruction funds and materials: None.

Housing:

  • During the war: Some 3,500 homes were completely destroyed, some 2,800 sustained heavy damage, and some 54,000 were lightly damaged.These homes housed about 325,000 people.
  • Policy on import of construction materials (cement, glass, iron) prior to the war: Banned, few humanitarian exceptions.
  • Policy on import of construction materials today:Construction materials (cement, glass, iron, etc.) banned; 19 trucks of mostly cement and gravel permitted to enter for exceptional humanitarian projects.
  • Needed to rebuild homes: At least 40,000 tons of cement, 25,000 tons of iron.

Humanitarian Infrastructure (Electricity, Water and Sewage):

  • During the war: Seven out of 12 electric lines were shut down; the power station operated only 50% of the time. One million people were without electricity, and half a million people were without running water.
  • Needed prior to the war to repair and maintain infrastructure: 172 types of spare parts that were either completely out of stock or were below minimum supply; 3.5 million liters/week industrial diesel for power station.
  • Needed today to repair and maintain infrastructure: 240 types of spare parts that are either completely out of stock or are below minimum supply; 3.5 million liters/week industrial diesel for power station.
  • Policy on import of materials prior to the war: Industrial diesel supply for power station limited to no more than 63% of need; parts stood idly for months in warehouses in Israel and the West Bank? due to the restrictions and delays on their import into the Gaza Strip.
  • Policy on import of materials for infrastructure today: Permission granted exceptionally for the entrance of fewer than 100 trucks carrying spare parts and building materials; industrial diesel still limited to no more than 63% of need.
  • Repercussions: 40,000 people have no electricity; 10,000 have no running water; power outages eight hours a day, four days a week for most areas; 87 million liters of untreated or partially treated sewage dumped into the sea daily for lack of electricity and spare parts.

Economy:

  • During the war: More than 1,000 factories, businesses and private sector institutions were damaged, at an estimated cost of $45 million.
  • Policy on import of goods prior to the war: Just 25% of the demand for goods was met (2,500 trucks per month versus 10,400); fewer than 40 kinds of items permitted (versus some 4,000 prior to the closure); ban on import of raw materials for industry and on export.
  • Policy on import of goods today: Just 25% of the demand for goods is met, permitting entrance of about 60 kinds of goods; ban on import of raw materials for industry and on export.
  • Repercussions: Some 97% of factories have remained closed; 42.3% unemployment in the third quarter of 2009 (compared to 32.3% unemployment in June 2007); 80% of the population dependent on food aid.

Education:

  • Policy on import of school supplies prior to the war: Banned, except for UNRWA schools.
  • Policy on import of school supplies today: Banned, except for UNRWA schools.
     
22 Comments
Most Voted
Newest Oldest
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments