A/HRC/15/51
deemed necessary; the programme should include the Gaza Strip and areas within southern
Israel close to impact sites. The environmental monitoring programme should be in
accordance with the recommendations of an independent body, and samples and analyses
should be analysed by one or more independent expert institutions. Such recommendations,
at least at the outset, should include measurement mechanisms that address the fears of the
population of Gaza and southern Israel at that time and should, at a minimum, be in a
position to determine the presences of heavy metals of all varieties, white phosphorous,
tungsten micro-shrapnel and granules and such other chemicals as may be revealed by the
investigation.
73.
OHCHR is not aware of any action taken within the reporting period to implement
the above recommendation.
I.
Action by the international community and responsible Palestinian
authorities
74.
In paragraph 1976 (a) of its report, the Mission recommended that the international
community and responsible Palestinian authorities should establish appropriate
mechanisms should to ensure that the funds pledged by international donors for
reconstruction activities in the Gaza Strip were smoothly and effectively disbursed, and
urgently put to use for the benefit of the population of Gaza.
75.
At the time of publication of the present report, no mechanism had been established
to track commitments against the $4.2 billion pledged by international donors at the
International Conference in Support of the Palestinian Economy for the Reconstruction of
Gaza, held in Sharm el-Sheikh on 2 March 2009. UNRWA has not been able to fully utilize
the $4.5 billion received from donors for reconstruction in the Gaza Strip owing primarily
to the restrictions on importing construction materials. Following the decision by Israel to
adjust its policy of closures in Gaza, UNRWA has proposed to the Government of Israel a
new process for receiving international aid and construction materials for housing, schools
and medical facilities. The proposal includes monitoring, verification and quality assurance
processes to guarantee the integrity of UNRWA programmes.
76.
In paragraph 1976 (b) of its report, the Mission recommended that, in view of the
consequences of the military operations, responsible Palestinian authorities and
international aid providers should pay special attention to the needs of persons with
disabilities. In addition, the Mission recommended that medical follow-up should be
ensured by relevant international and Palestinian structures with regard to patients who
suffered amputations or were otherwise injured by munitions, the nature of which had not
been clarified, in order to monitor any possible long-term impact on their health. Financial
and technical assistance should be provided to ensure adequate medical follow-up to
Palestinian patients.
77.
OHCHR is not aware of any action taken by responsible Palestinian authorities or
Palestinian structures in response to the above recommendation.
78.
The Disability Sub-Cluster, led by the World Health Organization (WHO), is
conducting activities to address the needs of disabled people in Gaza, including providing
assistive devices, supplying new limb prosthesis every month, providing outreach services
(approximately 3,000 beneficiaries from May 2009 to June 2010), counselling and
psychosocial support. The Sub-Cluster continues to provide capacity-building in
physiotherapy and occupational therapy and coordinate over 40 non-governmental
organizations working on disability issues in Gaza. According to WHO, during the
reporting period, 80 patients whose limbs had been amputated as a result of injuries
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