A/HRC/13/54 C. General human rights situation in Gaza 26. Sporadic violence within the armed conflict between Israel and Palestinian armed groups continued during the reporting period, with Israel launching airstrikes on Gaza28 and Palestinian armed groups firing rockets and mortar shells into Israel.29 Since the end of Operation Cast Lead, 89 Palestinians and 1 Israeli have been killed, while 154 Palestinians and 7 Israelis have been injured in such incidents.30 27. The blockade of Gaza continues to further deprive the population. Denied basic supplies and services, 1.5 million persons are subjected to a worsening humanitarian crisis that disregards their human dignity. The blockade has had a devastating impact on a broad range of human rights of Gazans — more than half of whom are children — most notably impeding the fulfilment of core human rights such as the rights to health, water, food, shelter, work and education. 28. Restrictions in place on the importation of construction materials into Gaza have left over 6,000 houses that were destroyed or seriously damaged during Operation Cast Lead unrepaired.31 This exacerbates the difficult living conditions of families still living in tents or makeshift shelters near the remains of their homes, in particular during the winter season.32 Moreover, winter will increase electricity needs, resulting in an expected electricity shortage of up to 35 per cent.33 D. The right to water 29. The water and sanitation situation in Gaza is perilous. The United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator recently stated that “the deterioration and breakdown of water and sanitation facilities in Gaza is compounding an already severe and protracted denial of human dignity in the Gaza Strip. At the heart of this crisis is a steep decline in standards of living for the people of Gaza, characterized by erosion of livelihoods, destruction and degradation of basic infrastructure, and a marked downturn in the delivery and quality of vital services in health, water and sanitation”.34 A September 2009 report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) warns that Gaza is on the verge of water and sanitation collapse. UNEP points to increased salinity from salt water intrusion caused by over-abstraction of ground water as a key concern, alongside pollution from sewage and agricultural runoff.35 Reinforcing this assessment, Amnesty International reports that the 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 8 See, for example, “Israel air strike kills Gaza militants”, BBC News, 10 January 2010. Available from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8450891.stm. Ambassador Aharon Leshno Yaar, Letters to the High Commissioner, dated 9 November 2009, 26 November 2009, 14 December 2009, 5 January 2010 and 12 January 2010. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Protection of Civilians, weekly report (16–22 December 2009), p. 2. Available from www.ochaopt.org/documents/Socha_opt_protection _of_civilians_weekly_report_2009_12_24_english.pdf. Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory and the Association of International Development Agencies (AIDA), press release on winter needs in Gaza (11 November 2009). Available from www.ochaopt.org/documents/ocha_opt_humanitarian_coordination_winterization _gaza_joint_statement.pdf. OCHA, The Humanitarian Monitor, October 2009, p. 10. Ma’an News Agency, “Gaza power cuts up to 32 hours per week”, 15 December 2009. Available from www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=246552. United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator and AIDA, press release, 3 September 2009. Available from http://ochaopt.org/documents/hc_aida_statement_gaza_watsan_20090803_english.pdf. UNEP, Environmental Assessment of the Gaza Strip Following the Escalation of Hostilities in December 2008 – January 2009 (Nairobi, 2009), p. 56. Available from www.unep.org/PDF/dmb/ GE.10-12152