Headlines
In February 2012, UNRWA was able to bring 88 trucks into Gaza for their sewage, drainage and water systems project in Khan Younis Camp. The Coastal Municipalities Water Utility (CMWU) was able to bring in two trucks with materials for an ICRC project and the last truck for Oxfam GB’s desalination project. The Palestinian Water Authority (PWA) coordinated the entry of 20 truckloads of materials for NGEST. OCHA reports on 15 truckloads entering Gaza with chlorine, bringing the total number of truckloads that entered the coastal enclave carrying WASH materials in February to 125.
The lack of fuel in Gaza is largely affecting the WASH service provision with up to 40% of the population accessing water once every four days only.
On 11 February, a 11 year old child drowned in a sewage pool at the Beit Lahia WWTP. Mapping of similar risk areas is ongoing and mitigations measures and awareness campaigns are being worked out to prevent such tragedies in the future. This is the third child fatality that has occurred in the same context within the past two months.
Demolitions and confiscations continue at a high pace with eight WASH related incidents reported in February 2012, including the demolition of donor funded humanitarian projects, including one cistern and four mobile latrines in Ar Rahwa. WASH Cluster partners are installing a post emergency response mechanism to alleviate the negative effect of these events on the already vulnerable population.
Rainfall figures are showing a positive trend with 85% of the annual expected rainfall reported and Ramallah even passing the 100%.