Reports released in September indicated that high rates of economic growth were recorded in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip over the course of the first half of 2010, compared with the parallel period in 2009. While these reports are encouraging, other indicators suggest that economic growth has yet to translate into tangible improvements in the lives of many people in the occupied Palestinian territory.
In the Gaza Strip, despite some reactivation of the private sector,between the first and the second quarter of 2010 (the period addressed by the reports), the unemployment rate increased from 39.7 to 44.3 percent of the workforce (relaxed definition), one of the highest rates in the world. Nearly 1.1 million Palestinians continue to rely on food assistance from the UN in order to meet their basic caloric needs. Ongoing restrictions on the import of construction materials and on the export of goods continue to impede the recovery of livelihoods and prevent efforts to address the huge level of housing needs generated since the imposition of the blockade; it is estimated that over 68,000 new housing units are needed to meet natural population growth alone, more than ten times the housing needs created by destruction incurred during the ‘Cast Lead’offensive.
(p. 10) The electricity crisis throughout the Gaza Strip continues to affect daily life in Gaza, particularly as regards the provision of essential basic services. Electricity cut-offs significantly impair water supply to households, and this means that 20 percent of Gaza’s population only receive running water once every five days (6-8 hrs), while 50 percent have water once every 4 days (6 hrs), and 30 percent have water only every two days (6-8 hrs). Service providers continue to rely extensively on backup generators and other alternative devices, which are unreliable as there as spare parts are not always available. Many Gazan households are forced to use dangerous portable generators. According to local sources, since the beginning of 2010 approximately 30 people have been killed and about 40 injured in generator-related accidents.
Press Release
http://reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/VVOS-8ADKH7?OpenDocument&rc=3&cc=pse
Full Report
http://www.ochaopt.org/documents/ocha_opt_the_humanitarian_monitor_2010_10_19_english.pdf
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