Profile: Gaza Strip

"The Gaza Strip is a narrow piece of land along the Mediterranean coast between Israel and Egypt. Just 40km long and 10km wide, it is home to more than 1.4m Palestinians"

BBC article dated 27 June 2006 describing Gaza. The article, which does not go into details (no mention of fisheries) gives a good (and short) account of Gaza history, its population centres, refugee camps, borders, entry/exit points, militant activity and the former settlement zone.

Gaza Beach Donkey

a photo provided by Greg (thanks!) showing Gaza beach donkeys. Fishers put fish on donkeys and go to the auctioneer (middleperson) who then sells the fish to merchants, shops, restaurants. Fish price is set by the auctioneer. Every fish landed has to be sold to him. He buys his licence 300 000 US dollar a year to the Palestinian Authority. And he charges fishers 5% of value of catch and fish merchants 3%, giving a total of 8%.

International assistance - news

Aid plan to the occupied Palestinian territory: Donors - Europeans first - say they want to avert a humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian territory (see BBC article). The EU and US cut off funding after Hamas came to power earlier this year. Their focus for funding would be on local health services and provision of basic needs to poor Palestinians (not through the Hamas led government though).

In another move, the United Nations agency that provides relief for the Palestinians, UNRWA, began distributing emergency food aid to an additional 90,000 Palestinian refugees in the Gaza Strip. UNRWA now provides food aid for 725,000 Palestinian refugees in the Gaza Strip alone.

Humaritarian Update

Latest OCHA situation report on the Gaza Strip, dated 7 June 2006. To be noted:

• Continued disproportinate balance between imports and exports of goods in and out of Gaza resulting in large export revenue losses.
• Total losses from produce harvested in the greenhouses previously used by settlers now exceed US$9.5 million. (these greenhouses were expected to be a source of revenue for the Strip)
• Continuing closure at Erez crossing (used for Palestinian workers and traders).
• Non payment of Palestinian Authority salaries.
• Internal violence.
• External violence (IDF artillery shelling continues in particular into the north and northeastern areas of the Gaza Strip).
• UN staff members facing problems coming in and out of the Gaza Strip. These Israeli restrictions come at a time when the international community is looking for UN agencies for increased resources and operations in response to the humanitarian situation in the occupied Palestinan territory.

More in the OCHA report.

The Launch of a Palestinian Shippers Council

The Palestinian Shippers' Council (PSC) was launched on April, 11th. The role of Shippers Councils is to protect and promote the interests of its members on matters relating to transportation. Trade being so crucial (and subject to restrictions) for Palestinians, this seems like an interesting initiative.

The PSC sees as part of its achievements:

• The free storage days for Palestinian goods at ports were extended from four to six days; as of 1st of April 2006.
• Laws, regulations, and procedures applicable to Palestinian imports and exports are being disseminated by PSC to the Palestinian shippers.
  PSC established itself as a focal point for regional port authorities and various Palestinian institutions.
• The PSC has launched its institutional website at (www.psc.ps)

More on their website.

OCHA Situation report on Gaza

Dated 3 May 2006, the report covers situation on access to and out of Gaza for goods and people.

OCHA-oPt March Access Report

The latest OCHA information report (12 April) from the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) on access to the Gaza Strip. The different points of access to the Strip of Gaza include:

• Karni crossing, for commercial goods
• Kerem Shalom crossing at the Gaza-Israel-Egyptian border, new crossing I think
• Erez crossing for Palestinian workers and traders into Israel
• Rafah crossing for Gazans travelling overseas
• Sufa crossing, once operating for Palestinians going to work on farms in the south of Israel
• Coastal area - fishing is permitted up to 6-10 nautical miles off the coast (Under the Oslo Accords, fishers are entitled to fish 20 nautical miles from the coast).
• Airport - closed since the second Intifada in late September 2000.

(See the report for more information) - To be noted:

As of 12 April, Karni crossing has been closed 53 days in 2006 (57% of 2006) - paralysing the Gaza export and import market.

The compagny responsible for the cultivation of agriculture produce in the former settlement areas now has losses in 2006 exceeding $6.4m. - worth noting, as it was thought this could become an important industry in Gaza.

8 confirmed cases of avian flu among poultry and ducks in the Gaza Strip leading to the culling of 250,000 livestock and to a food crisis.

Humanitarian assistance originating from Egypt (through Kerem Shalom)

Net closes in on Gaza fisherman

"Unable to afford the rising prices of lamb, beef and flour in their sealed-off coastal strip, Palestinians crowd their markets in search of fish. Now that poultry supplies are depleted by the threat of bird flu, the clamour for fish is even greater..." A Times article dated 6 April 2006

Avian influenza has amplified fishing sector crisis in Gaza

Avian influenza and the Karni closure have put more pressure on the Gaza Strip fishing sector, as Gazans are looking for other sources of proteins than chicken. Yet, the fishing sector is unable to meet the demand, as the 330 square meter fishing grounds permitted by the occupying power are overfished. According to the Palestinian National Authority Department of Fisheries, the local production has halved from 8MT/day in 2005 to 4.2 MT/day in March 2006. Also due to limits on fishing area, fishers are reported to fish close to the shore where the fish come in to spawn and to use small sized fish nets resulting in 400 kg of bycatch a day (fish are then dumped as they are too small to be marketed). Further the closure of Karni crossing, the commercial crossing for products to come in and out of Gaza, have made people even more dependent on the local production, which already was not meeting the demand. And the shortage of fish have resulted in price increase: the price of sardines (most of the production and the only fish the poor can afford) has doubled from 15NIS/kg in Jan 2006 to 30NIS at the end of March. (sources: World Food Programme, 1st April 2006)

Coastal area, seaport and airport

OCHA 8 March report reads that:

Following the elections in the occupied Palestinian territory, the Israeli government has stopped talks with the Palestinian Authority (PA) on the construction of a seaport in the Gaza Strip. Yet, the 15 November Agreement stated that the construction could commence.

The Israeli government has also cut off talks with the PA on the issue of operating an airport in Gaza following the elections.

Regarding fishing catch, OCHA reports that in Februray 2006, it was higher (58 tonnes) than the previous month but lower than the catch in February 2000, 2004 and 2005.

Since January 2005, the Israeli authorities have permitted Palestinian fishing up to 10 nautical miles from the Gaza Strip coastline compared to six nautical miles previously. Unde the Oslo Agreement, fishermen are entitled to fish 20 nautical miles from the coast. Palestinian fishing is prohibited one nautical mile north of the border with Egypt and one and a half nautical miles south of the border with Israel.

(See my March 17th posting for a similar yet a bit different account on 'permitted' fishing area)

Artistitic work on Gaza food shortage due to Karni crossing closure

by Palestinian artists Raaof Haj Yahia and Ali Batha.

Karni crossing opened but not fully operating

A press release by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) dated 22 March 2006 highlighting that:

• Karni crossing has re-opened but is not fully operating, therefore not letting sufficient food aid in
• There is a lack of fuel to distribute the food that comes in

As a reminder, here are some data which I had already typed down in my January 27th posting:

• More than 1.4 million Palestinians live in the Gaza Strip.
• 90% of the population are refugees.
• Some 65 to 75 per cent of Gazans are impoverished (compared to 30 per cent in 2000); many are hungry.
• About 42 per cent of Gazans are categorised by the World Food Programme (WFP) as 'food insecure'; in five areas of Gaza, the figure exceeds 50 per cent. An additional 30 per cent of the population is 'food vulnerable', i.e. under threat of becoming food insecure or malnourished.
• According to the World Bank, Palestinians are currently experiencing the worst economic depression in modern history, caused primarily by the long-standing Israeli restrictions that have dramatically reduced Gaza's levels of trade and virtually cut off its labour force from their jobs inside Israel.

Gaza Strip situation report 23 March 2006

The latest OCHA update on access to the Gaza Strip.

To follow up on access and closures to the Gaza Strip, OCHA website is a good place to go.

Commercial point of access between Gaza and Israel closed

Primary point for passage of goods between Gaza and Israel closed since February 12 despite the Access and Movement agreement brokered between Israel and the Palestinian Authority by the Quartet and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on 15 November 2005. See OCHA update dated 19 March.

Fishers facing tight squeeze

From the International Middle East media Centre (IMEMC). The media centre is a collaboration between Palestinian and International journalists to provide an English language media coverage of Israel-Palestine.

Wednesday 8 March 2006

"Fisherman have also faced a tight squeeze due to Israeli security forces controlling where and when they can fish, creating an arbitrary 'line in the sea', and enforcing it at will, firing at fishermen when they enter the sea to fish out of their small boats.

Director of the marine department in the agriculture Ministry, Mr. Tariq Saqer, said that fishing contributes 2% to the Palestinian national income, although it previously contributed much more.

Now, due to Israeli naval forces firing arbitrarily at fishermen, they are afraid to venture outside of a two-square mile area of coast, a tiny patch that is completely insufficient to provide the fish necessary to maintain their livelihood.

The United Nations and various human rights groups have condemned the Israeli closure and economic and military control of the Gaza Strip, saying that the current closure is causing a severe food crisis in Gaza."

The beginning of the IMEMC article speaks about the financial catastrophe of the Gush Katif greenhouses - transferred to the Palestinian Administration as a gift - due to Israeli closing of the Karni crossing between Israel and the Gaza Strip since February 12. This shows that at the moment fishing is still the only real industry in the Strip of Gaza. But most importantly the closing of the Karni crossing, the commercial crossing for Gaza, is likely to lead to a humanitarian crisis in the Strip: flour stocks are finished as well as other basic food commodities.

How Palestinians feel about election results: a public opinion poll

What would bring a people, the most secular of Arab populations with little history of religious fundamentalism, to vote Hamas?

The Jerusalem Media & Communication Centre (JMCC) has conducted a public opinion poll on Palestinian attitudes towards the results of the elections held on January 25, 2006.

1,200 people were surveyed throughout the West Bank (760 people) and the Strip of Gaza (440 people). Respondents surveyed from the Strip of Gaza came from in and around Gaza, Khan Younis, Rafah and deir al Balah. The average age of the respondents was 34 years and respondents included fishermen.

As a reminder, in the New Parliament, Hamas won 30 seats from national lists and 46 seats from election districts, i.e. 76 seats out of 132.

I've written below some of the results obtained from the poll in the Gaza Strip to get a feel of how Gazans approached the elections.

Number of respondents in the Gaza Strip= 440

Did the elections results meet your expections?

Met my expectations: 26.1
Somewhat met my expectations: 31.8
Did not meet my expectations: 40.9
No answer: 1.2

Given the elections results, to what extent you say that the elected members represent your point of view?

Represent my point of view: 32.7
Represent my point of view to a certain extent: 40.2
Do not represent my point of view: 24.8
No answer: 2.3

In general, how do you evaluate the performance of the previous Palestinian Legislative Council?

Very good: 3.2
Good: 20.7
Bad: 39.8
Very bad: 34.5
No answer: 1.8

What is the government structure you hope to see after the Palestinian Legislative Council elections?

National Coalition: 55.5
Hamas Government: 23.4
Technocrat Government: 16.1
No answer: 5.0

The Palestinian Authority is committed to the option of political negotiations with Israel. Do you believe that the new government headed by Hamas has to continue with the political negotiations, stop the political negotiations and should adopt other options?

To continue with the political negotiations: 63.2
Stop the political negotiations: 33.9
No answer: 2.9

If you voted for Hamas , why so?*This question was asked who said that they voted for Hamas

Religious Factors: 18.9
Hope to end the Corruption: 47.6
Hope to live in better living conditions: 7.9
For their political agenda: 11.0
To stop Fateh's control over the government: 5.3
Others: 3.5
No answer: 5.8

Regardless of whom you voted for, why do you think most People voted for them?

Religious Factors: 11.6
Hope to end the Corruption: 51.4
Hope to live in a better living conditions: 18.4
For their political agenda: 5.5
To stop Fateh's control over the government: 9.8
Others: 2.3
No answer: 1.0

International assistance

(Personal research work)

There are two main agencies which have provided assistance to the fisheries sector in the Strip of Gaza. These are the Danish International Development Agency, DANIDA, and CARE International, an international non governmental relief and development organisation.

DANIDA Gaza fisheries sector

DANIDA has provided support to the Gaza fisheries sector since 1996 via the Gaza fisheries project. The Gaza fisheries project lasted four years with a budget of DKK 19 million. It was followed by a consolidation phase, which started in 2000 and had a DKK 6 million budget. The consolidation phase which was meant to last 18 months was delayed due to the political situation. The consolidation phase is now closing with the construction of the Hauling Launching System slip way.

The objective of the DANIDA Gaza fisheries sector was to support the development of the fisheries sector in Gaza through the training and capacity enhancement of the Directorate of Fisheries with a focus on fisheries management, fisheries research and data collection, and general management and administration. Major activities of the project included: Assisting the Directorate of Fisheries in promoting cooperation with the Fishermen’s Association and Cooperative; Assisting Directorate of Fisheries staff in developing biological sampling and data collection; Facilitating the construction of a Hauling Launching System in the port of Gaza; Assisting Directorate of Fisheries in developing management skills, etc. Due to difficult situation, halted activities and closures, activities relating to data collection and inspection severely suffered during the project implementation and consolidation phase.

Following the outbreak of the Intifada (2000) which resulted in high poverty rates amongst fishermen’s households, DANIDA also started a fisherwomen’s Association project. The project was completed in 2004.

CARE International Gaza Fisheries Conservation and Development Project

CARE International implemented in collaboration with the American Near East Refugee Aid organization the Gaza Fisheries Conservation and Development Project during the period 1997 - 1999. The main components of the project funded by IFAD were:

• Strengthening the managerial capacity of the Fisherman’s Cooperative;
• Establishment of a savings fund for fisherman in Gaza;
• Provision of training to fisherman, cooperative staff and Ministry of Agriculture Staff in ways and means of conserving and developing the fishing sector in Gaza;
• Establishing women’s solidarity groups and assisting them to develop community-managed savings and loan facilities.
  

The project also included a sector review of fisheries in Gaza and a number of concept papers for the undertaking additional initiatives, including for the development of an artificial reef in Gaza to increase the productivity of fisheries.

International Management Group

The European Commission International Management Group has recently assessed the feasibility of rehabilitating the fishery shelter in Gaza (to make it a port) and the social impact the rehabilitation of the shelter would have on fishers. What is causing problem with the current shelter in Gaza is: i) its design - in its current state, the shelter is creating environmental problems with 650, 000 tonnes of sand coming in each year - and ii) fish catches decrease due to Israeli fishing restrictions (permitted fishing area: 10 nautical mile from coastline). Regarding catch decrease, Seamus Dunne from the International Management Group, recommends developing artificial reefs and mariculture. The report has been submitted to the European Commission for funding and to the Palestinian Authority for agreement.

Future assistance? This is currently THE question. What will be the relationship between the new leadership and the international community? Will the international donor community cut off aid?

Trade and Movement

(Personal research work)

Without trade the Gazan fisheries sector cannot develop.

The main commercial point for products in and out of Gaza is Karni (Almentar in Arabic) checkpoint. Export figures show that for one ‘Palestinian’ container out, four ‘Israeli’ containers come in – indicating a net transfer in favour of Israelis. Two months after the completion of unilateral Israeli disengagement from the Gaza Strip, an agreement was reached on 15 November 2005 between the Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority. The Agreement set an export target of 150 truckloads a day by the end of 2005. OCHA reports that in December 2005, 48 truckloads of goods left from Gaza, a figure well below the export target set in the 15 November Agreement.

Major hindrances to fish exports are:

• the stringent checks truckloads have to go through at the Karni check point to meet Israeli security concerns which make it difficult to export fresh fish, a very perishable good;
• the back to back loading system, by which goods are unloaded from one truck and reloaded onto another truck at the checkpoint;
• the lack of market outside Israel. No fish marketing is allowed from Gaza to the West Bank and the Jordan markets – where there is a high demand for fish;

and also,

• the unavailability of fish inspectors at the check point outside regular office hours;
• the lack of equipment and modern storage facilities for importing and exporting fish.

Another impediment is that Israeli imports into Gaza have precedence over Palestinian exports out of Gaza. OCHA reports that 22 of the 31 import and export channels at Karni are either exclusively for Israeli imports or with Israeli priority where dual passage occurs. This is in breach of the Paris protocol agreement that affirms the equality of treatment for Palestinian and Israeli goods. Presently Israel exports 1,300 tonnes of frozen fish and 900 tonnes of fresh fish into Gaza a year – mostly species not consumed in Israeli markets due to local dietary practices. It is estimated that an additional 800 tonnes of high value fish not accounted for in Palestinian statistics are sold a year to Israeli merchants waiting at some 10-15 kms off the coast of Gaza with the blessing of the IDF (Israeli Defence Force).

Trading fish by air is not an option, as air traffic out of Gaza is prohibited. By sea? Access to Gaza by sea is denied. As for the sea port in the Gaza Strip, its future is still uncertain. The 15 November Agreement stated that the construction of a seaport can commence but is not expected to be operational within two years. The importance of a port at Gaza to the Palestinian economy was agreed on by both sides at Oslo, as being necessary for the development of free foreign trade with other countries in the world. The work which began in August 2000, with European donors’ funds, was stopped after the outbreak of the Al Aqsa Intifada in October of that year because of the political and military situation. Now the sea port, better described as a shelter, needs rehabilitation. It is silting over with 650,000 tonnes of sand coming in each year. Seamus Dunne, Senior Social Development Officer for the International Management Group, a body working with the European Commission (DG Development) says a rehabilitated sea port would offer: better security (at the moment there are a lot of accidents walking to boats); better equipment and modern storage facilities for importing and exporting fish (provided that Israeli restrictions on trade are lifted), and; an additional 9 kms to fish. (to be continued)

Election poll day in Gaza

An article on election poll day in the Gaza Strip highlighting: the party-like atmosphere at the polling stations, the voices of the people against occupation and corruption and the popular support for Hamas - born in Gaza. According to the author of the article, Eóin Murray: "Certainly anyone who has ever been to the Gaza Strip and witnessed Israeli human rights violations and the chaos on the streets because of the collapse of law and order is not shocked at a good showing by Hamas".

'Occupation' and 'collapse of law and order' reminded me to put the following figures:

• More than 1.4 million Palestinians live in the Gaza Strip.
• 90% of the population are refugees.
• Gaza has the highest birth-rate in the region – 5.5 to 6.0 children per woman.
• Eighty per cent of the population is under 50; 50 per cent is 15 years old or younger.
• Access to healthcare and education is rapidly declining.
• The half of the territory in which the population is concentrated has one of the highest densities in the world.
• Levels of unemployment are of 35 to 40 per cent.
• Some 65 to 75 per cent of Gazans are impoverished (compared to 30 per cent in 2000); many are hungry.
• About 42 per cent of Gazans are categorised by the World Food Programme (WFP) as 'food insecure'; in five areas of Gaza, the figure exceeds 50 per cent. An additional 30 per cent of the population is 'food vulnerable', i.e. under threat of becoming food insecure or malnourished.
• According to the World Bank, Palestinians are currently experiencing the worst economic depression in modern history, caused primarily by the long-standing Israeli restrictions that have dramatically reduced Gaza's levels of trade and virtually cut off its labour force from their jobs inside Israel.

The question is now: What comes next? What will be the relationship between the new leadership and the international community? Will violence excalate? Will the international donor community cut off aid? What will happen to Gaza?

Palestinian Fishing after the Disengagement

(Personal research work)

Prior to the disengagement, internal movement was almost impossible within the Gaza Strip. Fishers and farmers from Al Mawasi, a 14 kilometre long and one kilometre wide enclave caught between the Gush Katif settlement block and the sea had little access to the outside world, for example. Fishing was prohibited from the nearby wharf of Khan Younis and subject to restrictions from the other wharf, the Rafah wharf. People could only access Al Mawasi through a single internal checkpoint through which it was virtually impossible for non residents to enter- be they family, friends or merchants. Only one fisher a year was allowed into Gaza City to register all the other fishers. These registrations were important for fishers as they made them eligible for international assistance, in particular World Food Programme food aid, on which the restrictions on sea and land made them heavily dependent (see also Safety Net for Palestinian Fishermen).

It was clear from the Disengagement Plan that Israel would maintain marine authority off the coast of Gaza. Less clear were the restrictions, if any, Israel will impose on the activities of the fishers and whether Israel will continue marine inspection off the coast of Gaza.

Months after the disengagement, completed on 12th September 2005, internal movement has seen a dramatic improvement within the Strip. Yet, the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights reports that: since fishers have been allowed back into the sea they have been subjected to intensive monitoring by the Israeli military at sea, including shooting (see also Some relief for Gaza’s fishermen).

The lastest OCHA Humanitarian Update for November December 2005 reports that:

• Access for Palestinian fishing has improved in Al Mawasi;
• Due to the prohibition of use of Khan Younis wharf and the restrictions at the Rafah wharf as well as Palestinian looting in the aftermath of the pull out, the wharves are in need of repair (USD 675,000 and USD 460,000 respectively);
• There is growing concern in Al Mawasi about the ability to export agricultural products through Karni crossing.
  

As for access to fishing, the OCHA update reads that:

• Palestinian fishing remain restricted by Israeli measures up to 10 nautical miles from the coastline;
• Palestinian fishing is further prohibited one nautical mile north of the border with Egypt and one and a half nautical miles south of the border with Israel;
• Palestinian fishing was totally prohibited between 24 September and 6 October (see also Some relief for Gaza’s fishermen).

OCHA stands for Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs - It is a United Nations agency whose mandate is inter alia to coordinate humanitarian response. On the OCHA Humanitarian Update Nov Dec 2005 link, you will find a map of access for Palestinian fishing dated November 2005 (p7) as well as maps of Gaza prior and post disengagement - practical to see where the Gush Katif settlement was. (personal research work posting to be continued)