Difficulties of Humanitarian Access in Gaza - UN Offices Attacked

by Michael Bear

category: Humanitarian Relief

Published January 15, 2009 @ 02:40PM PT

[Footage of attack against UNRWA in Gaza from The Guardian]

Early today, Israeli shells hit the main UN compound in the Gaza Strip.  The attack against the headquarters of the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), located in Gaza City, left at least three people injured.

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak claimed that it was a "grave mistake".

Yet Israeli officials also tried to justify the attack, stating that Hamas militants near the UNRWA compound had fired on Israeli forces.

This allegation drew a quick response from the UN, with one UNRWA spokesman calling the allegations "entirely baseless".

Furthermore, according to UNRWA, Israel had already been provided GPS coordinates for all UN facilities in Gaza.  Just last week the Israeli military met with the UN and, according to Deutsche Presse Agentur, "committed its troops to preserving the neutrality of the UN and the safety of the staff."

Considering the impact of the fighting on the civilian population - including food shortages and a health system on the verge of collapse - humanitarian access is absolutely critical.

And, as today's attack shows yet again, humanitarian access is growing increasingly difficult.

Gaza today is the most dangerous place in the world for aid workers. According to the UN, five UNRWA staff, three UNRWA contractors, and one WFP contractor have been killed since December 27th, with another four staff and six contractors injured.

In addition, one aid worker with CARE has also been killed, as have thirteen medical personnel.

(According to Palestinian health officials, the total number killed a of yesterday was 1,013, including 322 children and 76 women.)

UNRWA has already suspended activities once (from December 8th to 10th) as a result of attacks against its staff.

Israel can point to the fact that it allows humanitarian assistance into Gaza, including 104 truckloads of supplies yesterday alone.   On some days, Israel also stops combat activities for three hours, to allow a window for aid to reach those trapped by the fighting.

Yet this is far, far from enough.  First, Save the Children estimates that the population of Gaza has received only one-eight of the food and medical supplies needed since December 27th.

Second, the three hour lulls simply aren't enough time to reach those most in need. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affiars (OCHA):

"Another key challenge faced by humanitarian organizations remains the ability to distribute food aid within the Gaza Strip. The three-hour humanitarian lulls are not long enough for the distributions, thus organizations are forced to distribute during military activity as well, putting both staff and beneficiaries at risk."

For instance, according to a recent article in the New York Times:

"[T]he aid group CARE said that Israeli bombs were falling around its warehouses and distribution sites in Gaza, forcing it to cancel the dissemination of food and medical supplies...Martha Myers, CARE’s director for the West Bank and Gaza, said that on Wednesday bombs fell near a care warehouse and 'our staff had to drop and run.'"

What I find most disturbing is a recent comment by an Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman, who said that many UNRWA employees are "one way or another...affiliated with Hamas".  It's a statement that means nothing and everything at the same time.

The spokesman isn't saying that UNRWA employees are fighting alongside Hamas, or offering material support, actions which would clearly contravene their humanitarian mission.

He simply says that one way or another many UNRWA employees are affiliated with Hamas.  What, exactly, does this mean?  Perhaps they voted for Hamas.  Perhaps someone in their family works for the Hamas-controlled administration in Gaza.

Yet such simple "affiliations" do not make them legitimate targets.

At the same time, the statement seems like an attempt to justify attacks against UN staff and facilities.  A slightly more sophisticated way of saying "they had it coming".

Not to absolve Hamas of all responsibility - especially seeing as how they do use civilians for cover.

I wish I had some way to sum up, some hope to offer.  Instead, all I can do is say how much and how deeply I respect all those - aid workers and medical personnel - risking their lives each day.

For the most recent Humanitarian Situation report from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), see here.