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| WFP URGES RESTRAINT AFTER GAZA
WAREHOUSE DESTRUCTION |
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Rome, 2 December 2002 - In response
to the weekend demolition of a WFP warehouse by the Israeli Defence
Forces, WFP is urging the Israeli government to observe humanitarian
principles and compensate the agency for its losses.
Some 537 metric tons of food aid was being stored in a warehouse
in the town of Jaballia in the northern part of the Gaza Strip which
was targeted in a military incursion the night of November 30.
“The fact that WFP was not permitted to remove the food is
worrisome,” said Jean-Luc Siblot, WFP country director.
"The food, which was housed on the ground floor of a three-storey
building and clearly marked as WFP property, mainly comprised donations
from the European Commission and Sweden and was to be distributed
by the Ministry of Social Affairs to some 41,300 destitute people
affected by the ongoing humanitarian crises in the Gaza Strip.”
The total value of the loss is estimated at US$271,000.
WELL-MARKED
At approximately 22:50, the Israeli Defense Force surrounded
the area and six tanks were parked in front of the building.
After requesting residents to evacuate their homes, IDF soldiers
entered the building and conducted a search of the premises with
dogs.
Despite the fact that the storage area was well marked as a WFP
warehouse, with a large WFP flag and three WFP stickers on the doors,
the soldiers proceeded to destroy the doors of the warehouse using
tanks.
The owner of the building witnessed dynamite sticks being placed
in various parts of the building and at approximately midnight,
several blasts were heard, followed by a large explosion from a
projectile dropped from a helicopter.
The building collapsed and everything left in it, including 413
tonnes of wheat flour, 107 tonnes of rice and 17 tonnes of vegetable
oil, was destroyed.
“WFP should have been permitted to remove the food. This act
has been carried out against basic humanitarian principles,”
Siblot said.
“WFP is asking the Government of Israel to conduct a thorough
investigation of the incident and take full responsibility for the
losses incurred by the agency.”
Geography
of Hunger
on the West Bank/Gaza Strip |
Hebron
(457,781 inhabitants)
Since late 2000, about 50,000 daily wage labourers
have lost their jobs
About 100,000 people need food aid
Bethlehem (153,954 inhabitants)
Since late 2000, about 47,000 people have
lost their jobs. Wages diminished by about 50 percent
About 30 percent of the families have reportedly
sold some property to get cash for basic necessities
About 30,000 people are in need of food aid
Jerusalem (367,000 inhabitants)
About 50,000 people lost their jobs
7,000 people need emergency food assistance
Ramallah (243,432 inhabitants)
About 19,400 people lost their jobs since
late 2000
30,000 people need food aid
Nablus (331,688 inhabitants)
Wages of daily workers in Israel used to
constitute a major source of income but since late 2000, about
13,000 people, including 8,000 who used to work inside Israel
or settlements, lost jobs
50,000 people need food aid
Qalquilia (81,900 inhabitants)
Surrounded by Israel on three sides, local
economy depends heavily on agriculture (esp. citrus exports)
and wages of daily workers in Israel. Since late 2000, about
16,000 daily wage workers have lost their jobs inside Israel
16,000 people need food assistance.
Tulkaram (149,188 inhabitants)
Local economy depends mainly on agriculture
and wages of daily workers in Israel. It is estimated that
about 90 percent of the labourers that worked inside Israel
have lost their jobs while 15,000 families dependent on agricultural
exports have lost all or part of their income
About 24,000 need food assistance
Salfit (54,600 inhabitants)
City's economy dependent on jobs inside Israel
and to a lesser extent agriculture. Many people are believed
to have lost their jobs due to the closures
11,000 in need of food aid
Jenin (225,700 inhabitants)
Economy largely depends on commerce with
and daily jobs in Israel (up to 70 percent). About 90 percent
of the trade with Israel has been lost due to the closure
while farming is now mainly a subsistence activity. About
20,000 who used to work inside Israel have lost jobs
Around 45,000 people are in need of food aid
Jericho (37,066 inhabitants)
7,000 people need food aid
Gaza Strip (1,196,000 inhabitants)
About 68 percent of Palestinians who have
fallen under the poverty line since late 2000 live here
Daily wages earned inside Israel used to form
a major source of income but the complete closure of the Strip
has deprived about 44,000 people of jobs
About 300,000 non-refugee Palestinians need
of food aid
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