Gaza Crisis

Appeal Target: US$ 1,092,885

Balance requested: US$ 170,500

The June 2007 intensive factional fighting between Hamas and Fatah in the Gaza Strip left over 650 casualties, many dead, and a population in uncertain and precarious conditions. In addition to the crisis in Gaza, in the West Bank, a dire humanitarian situation had been created by the blockage of funds by international donors and the withholding of money from taxes and custom duties collected for the Palestinian National Authority by the Israeli government since March 2006. 

As a result of the fighting, Hamas took over the Gaza Strip. Henceforth, the political leadership was split between Gaza and the West Bank. A care taker government was appointed by President Abbas in Ramallah and a deposed government continued to function in Gaza.

Under the terms of International Law, Israel is still responsible for the well-being of the population living in Gaza as Israel controls the access of borders and airspace. As a response to the attacks of rockets from Gaza into Southern Israel, Israel cut off vital services such as water, electricity, gasoline and severely restricted the flow of goods into Gaza. This exacerbated the already dire living conditions of the Gaza population. In January 2008, the situation culminated in the breakdown of the fence separating the Gaza Strip from Egypt and the pouring of tens of thousands of Palestinians across the border in search of food and other needed commodities. As highlighted in recent reports from World Food Program and Human Rights Watch, the Gaza Strip will remain under very difficult economic, social and human rights conditions caused by the continuing political chaos.

In the West Bank, the situation particularly in the Northern part remains problematic because of the effects of the Separation Wall and the check on the movement of the population between Palestinian towns and villages. One somehow positive outcome was that the Western countries decided to lift the siege from the Ramallah government thus enabling millions of dollars to pour in to pay the salaries of more than 170,000 public employees of whom 80,000 are found in Gaza. But in spite of this apparent easing of the public sector salary and its positive consequences to the local economies, the overall political situation continues to cast a serious effect on the development prospects of the Palestinian economy.

With funding through the ACT appeal MEPL71 issued on 9 July 2007, ACT member Middle East Council of Churches/Department of Service to Palestine Refugees (MECC/DSPR) proposed to provide essential food and cash equivalent, six-month contracts to medical staff in order to cope with the increased demand on medical services, and provision of medicaments and other medical needs for chronically ill people.

Since MEPL71 has received a particularly good support from our members, the present revision is issued to allow MECC/DSPR to continue its intervention in the Gaza strip and West Bank for 4 additional months, until 24 April 2008.

An evaluation is planned before the completion of the appeal to review the overall performance of DSPR operation since 2003.

Given the present situation, ACT members in the Palestinian Occupied Territories will consider a subsequent appeal after the completion of MEPL71.

Project Completion Date: 25 June 2007 - 24 April 2008

Reporting as per ACT Guidelines:

Interim narrative & financial reports: 30 November 2007
Final narrative & financial reports: 24 June 2008
Audit: 24 July 2008

Summary of Appeal Targets, Pledges/Contributions Received and Balance Requested:

Total Appeal Target(s): $1,092,885
Less: Pledges/Contr. Recd.: 922,385

Balance Requested from ACT Alliance: US$ 170,500

Signed by:

John Nduna
Director, ACT Co-ordinating Office