emergency and disaster reports 2016; 3 (1): 4-51 reports...emergency and disaster reports 2016; 3...

EmergencyandDisasterReports2016;3(1):4-51

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EmergencyandDisasterReports

ISSN2340-9932 Vol3,Num1,2016

Monographicissue

NaturaldisastersandcomplexhumanitarianemergenciesintheoccupiedPalestinianterritories

OmarHawajri

UniversityofOviedo–DepartmentofMedicineUnitforResearchinEmergencyandDisaster


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Letterfromtheeditors

TheEmergencyandDisasterReportsisajournaleditedbytheUnitforResearchinEmergencyandDisasteroftheDepartmentofMedicineoftheUniversityofOviedo aimed to introduce research papers, monographic reviews andtechnical reports related to the fields of Medicine and Public Health in thecontextsofemergencyanddisaster.Bothsituationsareeventsthatcandeeplyaffectthehealth,theeconomy,theenvironmentandthedevelopmentoftheaffectedpopulations.

Thetopicscoveredbythejournalincludeawiderangeofissuesrelatedtothedifferent dimensions of the phenomena of emergency and disaster, rangingfrom the study of the risk factors, patterns of frequency and distribution,characteristics, impacts, prevention, preparedness, mitigation, response,humanitarian aid, standards of intervention, operative research, recovery,rehabilitation, resilience and policies, strategies and actions to address thesephenomena froma risk reduction approach. In the last thirty years has beensubstantial progress in the abovementionedareas in part thanks to a betterscientificknowledgeof thesubject.Theaimof the journal is tocontribute tothisprogressfacilitatingthedisseminationoftheresultsofresearchinthisfield.

This first number of 2016 of the Emergency andDisaster Reports covers thesituation intheoccupiedPalestinianterritories" (OPToropt) that is theWestBank (including East Jerusalem) and the Gaza Strip which are occupied orotherwiseunderthecontrolofIsrael.IsraeloccupiedtheterritoriesoftheWestBank and Gaza Strip in the Six-Day War of 1967, which had been earlieroccupiedbyJordanandEgyptrespectively,andhasmaintainedcontrolofthemsince.

According to many local and intentional humanitarian reports and studiesaddressing the sever on-going humanitarian situations in the occupiedPalestinian territories, and the effects of these situations on the Palestinianpopulation, these reports showed that opt is one of the hottest area fordisasters in the world, particularly the Humanitarian Complex Emergencieswhich going on for more that sex decades without existing any possiblehumanitariansolutionstoendthelong-lastingconflict,whichexacerbatedthehumanitariansituationsandmaximizethevulnerabilityofpopulation.


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Due to the Israeli Occupation and their colonizing polices since 1967, thehumanitariansituationusuallycontinuestogetworse.

As a direct result, Palestinian people and government have been facing amultiple challenges in relation to governance, sustainable development andstability, among of these challenges Palestine is highly vulnerable to naturalhazards, mainly earthquakes, floods, landslides, droughts, desertification aswell as environmental degradation, their consequences however have beenrelativelysmallcomparedtotheeffectsoftheconflictintermsofmortalityandmorbidity,theconflictcanhaveaneffectontheresponsetoanaturaldisasterreductionaswell,alsohindersthedevelopmentofpreventionandmitigationstrategies.

Prof.PedroArcos,Prof.RafaelCastroEditors,EmergencyandDisasterReportsUnitforResearchinEmergencyandDisasterDepartmentofMedicine.UniversityofOviedoCampusdelCristo33006Oviedo–Spainwww.uniovi.net/uied


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Monographicissue

NaturaldisastersandcomplexhumanitarianemergenciesintheoccupiedPalestinianterritories

Author:OmarHawajri

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TableofContents

1. Introduction……….……………………………………………….…………………..………..52. NaturaldisastersinOPTandimpacts…………..…………………………………..……7

Flashfloods…………………………………………………….………………………………….…….11Earthquakes….…………………………………..…..………………………………………...………16Environmentaldisasters…………………………..…………………………………………..….19

3. TechnologicaldisastersinOPT……………………………..……………….……….…….214. Humanitariancomplexemergenciesandimpacts…………………………….22

Someofhumanitariancomplexemergencies…………………………………….…..…242008-2009Conflict“OperationCastLead..……………………………………..…………242012Conflict“OperationDefensivePillar”.………………………………….……………275. Maindisaster'sriskfactorsinOPT……………………………………………………….316.StrategiesofdisasterpreventionandresponseinOPT……………..…..…377.GeneralinformationaboutDRRorganizationsinOPT………………………39

GovernmentalOrganizationsandMinistries………………….…………….……39Non-GovernmentalOrganizations……………………………………….………………40

8.Challengesandgaps………………………………………………………………………..………419.Recommendations………………………………………………………………..…………………4210.Discussionandconclusions……………………………………………………………………..…4411.References…………………………………………………………………………………..…45


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1.Introduction

Accordingtomanylocalandintentionalhumanitarianreportsandstudiesaddressingthe sever on-going humanitarian situations in the occupied Palestinian territories(OPT),andtheeffectsofthesesituationsonthePalestinianpopulation,thesereportsshowedthatoptisoneofthehottestareafordisasters intheworld,particularlytheHumanitarianComplexEmergencieswhichgoingonformorethatsexdecadeswithoutexisting any possible humanitarian solutions to end the long-lasting conflict, whichexacerbatedthehumanitariansituationsandmaximizethevulnerabilityofpopulation.Due to the Israeli Occupation and their colonizing polices since 1967 (the Israelimilitaryoccupation inWestBankandGazaStrip), thehumanitarian situationusuallycontinues to getworse. As a direct result, Palestinian people and government havebeenfacingamultiplechallengesinrelationtogovernance,sustainabledevelopmentand stability, among of these challenges Palestine is highly vulnerable to naturalhazards, mainly earthquakes, floods, landslides, droughts, desertification as well asenvironmental degradation [1], their consequences however have been relativelysmallcomparedtotheeffectsoftheconflictintermsofmortalityandmorbidity,theconflictcanhaveaneffectontheresponsetoanaturaldisasterreductionaswell,alsohindersthedevelopmentofpreventionandmitigationstrategies.In the Occupied Palestinian Territory, national policies and legislations still focusingtowards rescue and relief activities in different regions of the country in time ofdisasters, so there is a need to shift this to preparedness and prevention andincorporating Disaster Risk Reduction DRR in to development plans of the country,considering the disaster as national priority towards the implementation of “HyogoFrameworkforAction”[2].In his speech at the Global Platform of Disaster Risk Reduction in May 2013, therepresentative of the opt raised the issue of the Hyogo Framework of Action HFAconcentrating only on natural disasters risk reduction at all levels, while ongoingconflictisalsoanimportantcauseofmortality,sufferingandloss[3].The Palestinian Authority are under the ongoing implementation of the HFA since2009, and they developing strategic plan for this implementation, theymade someprogresstowardsthe implementation,however,asaresultoftheuniquePalestiniancase,nogeographicconnectionbetweentheGazaStripandWestBank,nonexistenceof national armed forces, weaknesses of national programs and public policies onpreparedness,mitigation,andemergencyresponse,theweakinstitutionalcapacityindisaster management and rescue operations, these factors effect negatively on theimplementationoftheHFAinthewholeregion[4].Despitealldifficulties,PalestinianNationalAuthoritydevelopedNationalDevelopmentPlan2010andNationalAgencyforDisasterRiskMitigation,aswellasallocated2,26%national budget to DRR programs ,and there is a presidential decree to create acontingencyfundtocopewithdisasters,butitisnotactivated,asweareadependentcountryonforeignfinancialassistance[5].


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Eventually,thereisanurgentneedtobuildtheresilienceofPalestiniancommunitiesthrough knowledge,advocacyand training, and encourage the internationalorganizationstoimprovethecapacitiesofthePalestiniantocopewithdisastersatalllevels.

Figure1:MapofPalestine(sourcePCBS2012)


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2.NaturaldisastersinOPTandimpactsGeneraloverviewofnaturaldisastersBased on data obtained from different statistical reports and scientific researchstudies, Palestine is natural disasters prone-area particularly earthquakes and localsite effects such as landslides, liquefaction and amplification, as a result of thegeographicalareaofPalestinianlandandthehighlyseismicactivityoftheDeadSea,theearthquakesintheregionareconsideredamajorhazard,withlowprobabilitybuthigh adverse impacts. Adding to this, the proposed Red Sea-Dead Sea ConveyancethatwillbringabouttwobillioncubicmeterofsalinewaterfromtheRedSeatotheDeadSeawillbepotentially,ifconstructed,ahugesourceofinducedearthquakes.Moreover,thefuturelooksnotsopromising;duetotherapidpopulationgrowthandthe way the cities are developing in the opt, asmore than 50% of the Palestinianpopulation lives in what is defined as "hazard-prone" areas. These areas areparticularly vulnerable, because of their dependence on complex infrastructures.Furthermore,thelackofknowledgeableprofessionalsandtechnicalcapabilitiesintheopt, in regard to disaster-sound management, is another reason for the currentchaoticsituation[6].Besides,thePalestinianPeoplefacingflashfloods,droughtsanddesertificationaswellasextremeweather,thesedisastershavecausedenormouslossesandhavesetbackeconomicprogress,andleavethePalestinianatrisktolosstheirlivesandproperties.Most importantly, water scarcity, natural resources depletion and severenvironmentaldegradationareothernaturaldisasterswhichsignificantlyconsideredapotentialthreattoopt.Based on hazards mapping, the probalaibity of these natraul disasters is inincerasing formany reasons,oneof these thegeographicalareaofPalestine.Forexample,thevulnerabilityoffloodinghasincreasedinthelastyearsduetothelack of land use planning and policy. In addition, the water flooding, landslidesand desertifciation will reduce the land for agriculture, cussing of theundergoroundwaterandreducetheamountofreliabledrinkingwateraswell.On the other side, the sensetivity of Palestine case under the on-goingconflcit, rappid unrbinzation, the limitation of the resouceress and logistics,largelygeopolitical situtions,poor socio-economical, evrionmetanl situations,consdineingmain challengess for the local authorities to intergrate DRR andmanagement in the development plans and policy all at levels particulary intheGaza Strip, aswell as these facotrs palying an active role in exacerbatedthe humnitrain situations andwoesen the capcity of Palestinian Authority tocope with these disasters [7]. This situations have highlighted the need forincreased investment in disaster risk reduction systems and capacities in localcommunitiesandcentralgovernmentinopt.In the following tables there is no clear estimated damage loss of the last naturaldisasterswhich happened in the last years reported in EM-DAT, except the damageloss estimated of theWasteWater Flood in the table 3.However, According to the


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PalestinianCenter forHumanRightsreportPCHRthedamage lossontheagriculturelivelihoodinthelastfloodin2013wereestimated16,5millionUS$[8].Table1:TopnaturaldisastersinPalestine(WestBankandGazaStrip),1900to2013,SortedbynumbersofkilledDisaster Date NoofKilledFlood* 8-Jan-2013 5WasteWaterFlood** 27-Mar-2007 8*Source:EM-DAT:TheOFDA/CREDInternationalDisasterDatabase.**Source:MoHandOCHAEnvironmentalEmergency,WasteWatertreatmentplantFlood2007.Table2:TopnaturaldisastersinPalestine(WestBankandGazaStrip),1900to2013,Sortedbynumbersofaffectedpeople.Disaster Date NoofAffectedFlood* 8-Jan-2013 12,500Flood* 28-Feb-2012 1,500Epidemics* Mar-1983 943Flood* 18-Jan-2010 500WasteWaterFlood** 27-Mar-2007 2,000*Source:EM-DAT:TheOFDA/CREDInternationalDisasterDatabase.**Source:MohandOCHAEnvironmentalEmergency,WasteWatertreatmentplantFlood2007.Table3:TopnaturaldisastersinPalestine(WestBankandGazaStrip),1900to2013,Sortedbydamagelossestimated.Disaster Date Damage(000US$)WasteWaterFlood* 27-Mar-2007 16,5MillionUS$*Source:MohandOCHAEnvironmentalEmergency,WasteWatertreatmentplantFlood2007.Table4:SummarizedtableofnaturaldisastersinPalestine,1900to2013.

Disaster NoofEvent

NoofKilled

Totalaffected

Damage(000US$)

Epidemics* Unspecifiedave.perevent

1 - 943 - - 943

Flood* FlashFloodave.perevent

1 - - - - - -

GeneralFloodave.perevent

3 5 14,5000 - 2 4,833 -

*Source:EM-DAT:TheOFDA/CREDInternationalDisasterDatabase.AccordingtotheDisastersProfileofPalestine,thereisnoanydatarelatedtonaturaldisastersdocumentedand recorded in thePreventionWeb.netbefore1983, the first


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event was reported about Palestine it was in Mar /1983 related to epidemicevent,andthelastupdatedwasthedocumentedeventofflashfloodinJan/2013[9].The following figures and tables showing the natural disasters that have occurredbetween 1980 and 2010 in opt, as it had reported by the Prevention Web .net.However,theseneedstobeupdatedwiththelastnaturaldisasterswhichhitinoptinthelast3years.

Table5:Naturaldisastersfrom1980–2010.OverviewNoofevents: 3Noofpeoplekilled: 0Averagekilledperyear: ...Noofpeopleaffected: 1,443Averageaffectedperyear: 47EconomicDamage(US$X1,000): 0EconomicDamageperyear(US$X1,000): 0Source:“PreventionWebprojectofUNISDR”

Figure2:NaturalDisasterOccurrenceReportedfrom1980–2010

Source:“PreventionWebprojectofUNISDR”


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Table6:Averagedisasterperyearfrom1980–2010.

Drought: ...Earthquake*: ...Epidemic: 0.03

Extremetemp: ...Flood: 0.06Insectinfestation: ...Massmov.dry: ...Massmov.wet: ...Volcano: ...

Storm: ...Wildfire: ...*Includingtsunami.Source:“PreventionWebprojectofUNISDR”

Figure3:Percentageofreportedpeopleaffectedbydisastertype.

Source:“PreventionWebprojectofUNISDR”

LatestCommonNaturalDisastersinOPT

FlashFloods10Jan2013


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OnJanuary2013,theintensiverainsandsnowstormsthatstartedonJanuary7thforthreedaysandhadstucklargepartsoftheOpthavegeneratedfloodsinseveralpartsofthecountry,therainswerethelargestindecades,accordingtometeorologists[10].TheDisastersReliefEmergencyFundDREFrequesttargetsboththereplenishmentofPRCS stocks forwhat has been distributed so far, and the immediate purchase anddistribution of additional items (especially tarpaulins and shelter repair kits) for thecontinuationoftheemergency[11].

AccordingtotheOCHAsituationreport,thiswinterstormcharacterizedbytorrentialrains,strongwinds, lowtemperaturesandsnowfalltheoccupiedPalestinianterritoryOpt between 7th and 10th January ,the first 48 hourswitnessed uninterrupted rains,with quantities reaching over 260 mm in some areas of the northern West Bank;overall, these threedays receivedmore than40%of theaverage seasonal rainfall ,most streams and rivers reached their limits and some overflowed , combinedwithpre-existingprecarious in the sewageanddrain structure inmanyareas in theOPT,resultedintheunprecedentedfloods[12].PalestiniancasualtiesincludedthreepeoplewhodrownedandonewhodiedofburnsinnorthernWestBank;andintheGazaStripatleastonepersonwaskilledandthreewere injured in tunnel collapses caused by the heavy rainfall. Field reports indicatethatapproximately12,500peopleinabout190communitiesintheWestBankandtheGazaStripweredirectlyaffectedbythestorm,negativelyimpactedbythelossof,ordamage to, residencesandagricultural livelihoodsdue to floodingandstrongwinds,some 200 homes were severely damaged and approximately 650 people weretemporarilydisplaced,theweatherconditionsexacerbatedpre-existingvulnerabilitiesstemming from movement, access and planning restrictions faced by Palestiniancommunities[13].Additionally,over20peoplewereinjuredacrosstheoptinweatherrelatedincidents,the impact primarily relates to the loss of, or damage to, housing and agriculturalinfrastructure and assets, including greenhouses, animal sheds, livestock and fieldcrops,duetofloodingandstrongwinds.Moreover,theextremeweatheralsoresultedinprolongedelectricitycuts, interruptionofaccesstoservicesduetothefloodingofroads, and the suspension of school classes. This extreme weather event hashighlightedtheneedforincreasedinvestmentindisasterriskreduction,preparednessandresponsecapacitiesoftheOPT[14].InthenorthernWestBank, thosemostaffected includedresidentsofurbanareas inthe Tulkarm andQaliqiliya governorates, and the central and southern areas of theWestBank,as significant losses topropertyanddisplacementof some familieshavereported [15]. In the Gaza Strip, Rafah sustained the most damage to housing,primarily due to flooding andmany homeswere damaged by the highwinds, largenumbersofgreenhouseswerealsoreportedlydestroyed,particularly inthenorthernWestBankandintheGazaStrip[16].

Emergency response interventionswere largely implementedby thePalestinianCivilDefense teams primarily search and rescue operations, and the Palestinian Red


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CrescentSocietyPRCS,coordinatedbythevariousGovernorateoffices,andproactivelyactivateditsfouroperationroomsinpreparationforthearrivalofthestormandheavyrains,IthassofarprovidedfirstaidandNFIassistanceto130familiesliketarpaulins,blankets,mattresses,hygienekits,kitchensets,andtwotentsto778persons[17].

As the scope and impact of the storm became more evident, UN agencies andinternationalNGOsbeganinterveninginsupportofongoingefforts,coveringemergingneeds and gaps in areas where they were already operational. Interventions byinternational organizations included distribution of non-food items, as well as foodassistance[18].

Figure4:Mapofmostaffectedareasofopt,dueto2013FlashFloods,OCHA.

TheeffectonthePalestinianHumanitarianneedsShelterandNon-FoodItemsNFI


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Official situations reports indicate that over 1,570 homes across the opt sustaineddamagedue to floodingandstrongwinds, two-thirdsof them in theWestBankandonethirdintheGazaStrip,thevastmajorityofthesewereleadingtothedisplacementofsome650people,andtheywereinhighneedofNFIassistance.In termsofdisasters response to this flash flood, inGaza Strip a collectiveeffort byPRCS, theMinistry of Social AffairMoSA, UNRWA, and Catholic Relief Services CRS,enabledalargenumberofaffectedfamiliestobeassisted.InternationalresponsesbyUNRWA.TheCoastalMunicipalitiesWaterUtilityCMWUinGazahadworkedaroundthe clock to drain water from flooded areas and houses, with technical supportprovidedbySavetheChildrenUK[19].In theWestBank,PRCS, theMinistryof SocialAffairMoSA,UNRWA,UNICEF,WorldVision and ACF distributed NFIs to affected households, including thousands ofmattresses, blankets, tarpaulin, kitchen sets and heaters. However, due to accessproblemsand the largenumbersof familiesaffected, the rateof coveragehasbeenmorelimitedthanintheGazaStrip.FoodAssistanceFood assistance needs are primarily among herder communities and poor urbanfamilies,whoseownfoodstocksweredamagedordestroyedbytheweather,andwhoalso lost housing and productive assets. To ensure food security, UNRWA and theWorldFoodProgrammeWFPhavemaintainedtheirnormaldistributionstoacaseloadof nearly 1.1 million people in Gaza. Additionally, theMoSA distributed more than2,700foodpackagesamongthemostvulnerablefamiliesaffectedbythestorm[20].AgricultureTheagriculturesectorhasbeenseverelyimpactedbytheextremeweatherconditions,hundreds of families depending on herding and farming for their livelihoodsexperienced heavy losses in greenhouses, field crops, livestock, and animal shedsparticularly in the northern West Bank, while the precise scope of damage wereexpected to be extensive, official reports indicate that the loss of animal shedsresulted in increasedmortality rates of livestock. This has raised particular concernregarding the resilience of already vulnerable herding communities and requires animmediate response. The poultry sub-sector was also severely hit, with more than100,000chickensdeadinthenorthernWestBankalone.TheMinistryofAgricultureMoAhadconductedanassessmentatthedirectorateleveltodocument thedamageand informaresponseplan. Inparallel, ithas launchedanappeal to the international community to support the rehabilitation of damagedstructuresandpreventfurtherlosses[21].FlashFlood2012


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Large parts of the occupied Palestinian territories were hit by exceptionally heavystorms, that resulted in theevacuationofmore than300 families from theirhousesduetofloods,andmajordamageinthehouseslocatedinthedistrictsofGaza,Hebron,Jenin,Salfit,RamallahandtheJerusalemareabeyondtheseparationwall[22].Inthecaseofthehousesclosetotheseparationwall,somehouseswerefloodeddueto their proximity to thewall which impeded the rain to flow away. In the case ofJerusalemandHebron, someof theaffectedpersonsareBedouin refugeeswho liveunder the threat of a forced displacement, the heavy rain and low temperaturesaffectedthealreadydifficultlivingconditionsofthepersonsinthesementionedareas.

Figure5:Mapofaffectedareasofopt,dueto2012FlashFloods,OCHA.


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EffectofthisfloodonthePalestinianHumanitarianneedsOnFriday2ndofMarch, the situationhasworsened, theheavyandcontinuous rainshadaparticularlyheavyimpactonthemanydistrictsofGazaandWestBank,includingHebron,RamallahandJerusalem,theheavyraintooktheshapeofsnowstorms,duetothe large quantities of rainfall, which surpassed 125% of the average rainfall duringpreviousyears,thelevelofrainabsorptionbythelandisreduced[23].In terms of response to this flood , the local authorities in collaboration andcoordination with Civil Defense , they had established operation rooms in differentcities tomonitor the heavywinter stormswhich hit the opt According to situationreportofPRCS , they immediatelydeployedrapidneedsassessmentteamstoassessthe needs of the most affected communities, based on the assessments and incoordinationwiththelocalGovernorates’EmergencyCommittee,thePRCSvolunteersstarted emergency relief items distribution in the form of mattresses, blankets,hygiene kits, kitchen kits, plastic sheeting and tarpaulins to approximately 1,123persons[24].FlashFloods2009On2009,torrentialrainshittheGazaStrip,causingheavyfloodsinhugepartsofthisdensely populated and poor area. After summer-long drought, the ground was notable toabsorb thehugemassofwaterwhichwashedawaysand,dust,andgarbagefromstreets;mergedwithsewagefromundergroundreservoirs;andfilledthegroundfloorsofthehomeswithmud,garbage,andcontaminateddirtywater[25].AmongtheworsthitareaswherethepoorestpeopleintheGazaStripwerelocated.InthenorthernpartofGazaStrip,dozensofhouseswereunderwaterandmud,inthesoutherncityofKhanYounis,where therewasno functioningorverypoordrainageandsewagesystems,thedirtyandcontaminatedwaterfounditswaythroughstreetsintohomesandotherbuildings[26].OneofthesewagetreatmentplantsinthenorthoftheGazaStripwasfilleduptothebrink of its banks, creating fears that this sewage water may completely buryresidentialareas,likewhathappenedthepreviousyearwithanotherdamburstingitsbanks, submerging a number of houses, and even drowning some people, floods ofthismagnitudeisarareexperienceintheGaza.The local Authority with cooperation with PRCS and ICRC responding to this flashfloods form the beginning of the this torrential rains through providing logisticalsupport to the civil societies and other relief items , as well as there was closedcoordinationinitiativesamongthelocalmunicipalities,thegovernmentalbodies,otherNGOs[27].Severalresponseteamsofthenationalandinternationalorganizationsweredeployedtothemostaffectedareas, registeringthenumberof familiesand individualswhose


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homeswere floodedanddestroyed,mostaffectedpeopleweregiven toppriority interm of receiving relief, logistical support, and medical care. Throughout the reliefoperationPRRCdeployedsome150volunteersinthefield,evacuatingpeoplefromtheaffected areas, cleaning the flooded areas and erecting shelter to some of thosefamilies [28], community volunteers had responded as well by working tomaintainopeningsewageanddrainagesystemsfunctioning.EarthquakesPalestine is a prone-area earthquake, during the last centuries there were allot ofearthquakeshitthePalestineandneighboringcountries,mostlikelyIsraelandJordan,most of these earthquakeswere epicenterd in the Dead Sea , one of the strongestearthquakes hit Palestine was in July 1927 [29], a destructive earthquake (6.25magnitude and epicenters some 15 km north of the Dead sea), with 250-500casualties;flowofJordanriverstoppedfor1/2hoursbylandslides,andtheotheroneis1943,astrongearthquakehitPalestine,accordingtotheexpertsatthistimethesethe1943and1927earthquakeswerethestrongestinregionduring20thcentury[30].Inaddition, in lastOctoberof2013aminorearthquakeshakesnorthPalestinetwicewithin 27 hours, according to the Geophysical Institute of Israel the earthquakeregistered a light 3.6 on the Richter scale, no injuries or significant damage wasreported.Theotheronewasamildearthquakemeasuring3.5ontheRichterscalehitnorthernIsraelandpeopleinWestBankfeltit[31].Basedon the locationand the seismicityof the region, anearthquakeofmagnitudemore than 6 is expected to happen, taking into consideration 1927 earthquake, amajordestructiveearthquake is expectedat any time in thenear futureandwill beepicenteredinthenorthoftheDeadSea,causingseveredamageandlossduelargelyto the high vulnerability of common buildings. On the other hand the predictedearthquake couldbeepicentered in the southernpart of theDead Sea according tootherstudiesintheregion[32].ManyassessmentandsiteinvestigationsinmanyareasintheWestBankshowedthatseveral urban areas have high vulnerability to earthquakes, the probability of theseoccurrenceswillbeincreasediftheseareasarehitbystrongearthquakes.Lackoflanduse, planning code, random urban expansion and management practices haveincreased the vulnerability of seismic site effects like; landslides, liquefaction andamplification [33], these site effects playing an important role on the intensity ofearthquakesinparticularlyWestBank.TheproblemsrelatingtoearthquakesinthePalestinianTerritoriescanbesummarized,butnotlimited,tothefollowing:1- High vulnerability to earthquake damages and losses, as a direct result of highpercentageofbadconstructionpracticesandweakbuildingsthatdonotcomplywith


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seismicresistancerequirements,aswellascommonfataldesignmistakes,absenceofnationallegislative,lawsandregulations,aswellaseffectivemechanisms.2- Lack of national programs and public policies on preparedness, mitigation, andemergencyresponse.3-Weakinstitutionalcapacityindisastermanagementandrescueoperations.4- Lackof awarenessby citizens, andweak capacityofprofessionals, engineers, anddecisionmakers.DeadSeaEarthquakeThe11February2004earthquake(ML5.2)withanepicenterinthenortheasternpartoftheDeadSeabasin[34](atlatitude31.679N,longitudes35.585Ewithafocaldepthof17km)causedslightdamagetoseveralregionsinopt,Thisearthquakewasfelt inmost cities: Jericho, Hebron,Nablus, Ramallah, Bethlehem and Jerusalem aswell asGaza,butnolifelosswasreported[35].Moreover,fewsmallerearthquakesfollowedthisEarthquakeatdifferentlocationsandtimesof thesameyear;7 JulyML4.8 (Lat31.97Long35.55),20 JulyML3.6 (32.46,35.25),2DecemberML2.8(32.25,35.37)[36].TheymainlyfeltinthenorthernpartofWest Bank especially in Nablus City, although they are not closed to Nablus butbecauseofsomesiteeffectsfactors(geological formations,structuresetc.)Basedonpost-earthquake investigations, many reinforced concrete buildings in Palestinesufferedslightnonstructuraldamages(damagegrade1accordingtoEuropeanMacroseismic scale 1998 “EMS- 1998”) [37], such as hair-line cracks in very few walls,speciallyoverframemembersorinwallsatthebaseandfinecracksinpartitionwalls.Three old schools suffered moderate structural damages and substantial non-structuraldamages(damagegrade3).TheEarthquakeaffectedalsomanyoldmasonrybuildingsinthePalestinianoldcities(Jerusalem, Nablus, Hebron, Bethlehem, etc.), in Nablus city few historical buildingshavebeenaffectedwithdamagesbetweengrades2tograde4.Thedamagesthathadbeenoccurredhadusuallybeenat zoneofpre-existingweakness. In the lightof thepost-earthquake investigations the effected masonry buildings suffered with manykindsofdamages,suchas:crackpatternsinpillars,slippagebetweentheblock,cornerdetachment,detachmentbetweenfewperpendicularwalls(inacorner)[38].Studies of historical earthquakes for the past few hundred years (Figure 6)demonstrate that the damaging earthquakes were located along the Dead SeaTransform fault 1-9, 26. The largest destructive recorded earthquake (NablusEarthquake) occurred on 11 July 1927 north Jericho at the boundary between theArabianandtheSinaiplatesandhadamagnitudeofabout6.[39](Figure7).


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Figure6:SeismicitymapoftheDeadSeatransformregion9,15,26fortheperiod1000-2004.Alsoshownistheearthquakeof11February2004.


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Figure7:DeadSeaEarthquake,11February2004ReliefWeb.

EnvironmentaldisastersinOPTWadeGazaFlooding

Wadi Gaza is one of the main natural features of the Gaza Strip, It is about 105kilometers length, and it extends from the armistice line east of Gaza to theMediterranean coast, the highest point of the valley reaches 30meters above sealevel,andthelengthofitspathacrosstheGazaStripspans7kilometers.

AccordingtothelocalenvironmentalexpertsinGazaStrip,theWadiGazaishighriskenvironmentalarea,Justacoupleofdecadesagoitwasoneofthenicestagriculturaland residential areas inGaza and right now it is disappeared, and all aspects of lifevanished, even the wild ducks, water storks and gulls have stopped coming herebecausethevalleyturnedintoagarbagedumpandanestuaryforthesewage[40].


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During winter seasons the heavy rains worsen the situations there, and the risk offlooding leavepeoplewho living theirmore vulnerable towater-pronediseases andvector –prone diseases, this also leads to the displacement of residents, kills theirlivestockanddestroystheircrops.On12thDecember2011theheavyrainshascausedamassive flood insomedenselypopulatedareasof theGazaStrip, the flood is fatalandhasalsocausedabout1,000familiestobedisplaced,thesituationbecameworsewhen areas bordering the Gaza Valley were also flooded, the Flood could be seencoveringanareaofapproximatelyonesquarekilometer,allthewaytotheSeaofGaza.Unfortunately,thesoilwasunabletoabsorbthehugemassofwaterandthisresultedindirtywater,sand,dustandgarbagecontaminatingthegroundfloorsofhomes[41].AccordingtothesituationreportofPRCS,PRCS'steamsinclosedcoordinationwiththelocalauthoritieshaveevacuatedmanytrappedfamiliesintheareasaround,aswellastheydistributedNFIforaffectedpeople[42].TheEnvironmentalQualityAuthorityinGazaexplainedthatduetothewaterflowstoppingacrossthevalleyasaresultoftheIsraelidams,alongwith the fact that thecentralmunicipalities relyonthecourseofthevalleytogetridofsewagearoundthearea,aseriousenvironmentaldisasterhasemergedinthevalley.Furthermore,thePalestinianfamiliesthereareliveinconstantfearthatIsraelwillopenthedamswhichsetuponitsborderswiththeGazaStrip,andwould cause a major humanitarian disaster. On 18th of January 2010, the Israeliauthorities opened the dam of Wadi Gaza without prior warning, this led to theinundation of dozens of houses and the displacement of about 100 families anddestroyedtheirlivelihood.Atthetime,accordingtoGaza’sCivilDefensesevenpeoplewhowerelivingtheresurvivedformdrowning[43].TheseverdeteriorationofthewaterandsanitationservicesThe limitedavailabilityofbuildingresources,spareparts,andfuelhaspreventedtheadequate operation and maintenance of the water and sanitation infrastructureparticularlyinGaza,creatingasignificantpublichealthandenvironmentalhazard.Thedeclineof thesystem is reflectedatmultiple levels, including thecurrent inabilityofGaza’s wastewater utility to properly treat the volume of sewage produced.Consequently, every day approximately 80 million liters of untreated and partiallytreatedwastewaterarebeingdischargedintotheenvironment.IntheMiddleAreaofGaza, forexample,about10million litersof raw,undiluted, sewage flowseverydayintotheGazaWadiandintotheMediterraneanSea[44].The Gaza wastewater treatment plant, which currently treats 50 million liters ofsewageadaywasoriginallydesignedtotreatonly32millionlitersperday.Asaresult,thewastewaterdischarged into the sea contains twice the safe standardamountofbiologicalpollutionandsuspendedsolids.Anexistingprojectaimedatupgradingtheplant’scapacityto70millionlitersadayisstillinanearlyplanningstageasaresultofbeing delayed for an extendedperiodof timedue to theblockade and theongoingconflict.The emerging public health concerns due to the inability of the current system toproperly treat the current volume of sewage produced in Gaza are significant.


21

Microbiologically contaminated seawater found along the Gaza Strip coast poses aserioushealthhazardnotonlytopeopleusingbeachesforrecreation,butalsototheentirepopulation,throughpotentiallycontaminatedseafood[45].InGazaonly5-10%oftheextractedwaterisconsidereddrinkablewhencomparedtoWHOsafetystandards. InKhanYounisgovernorate,oneof theworstaffectedareas,theaverage levelsofnitratesdetectedduring2008 in thewaterwellswas169mg/L(the safe WHO level 50 mg/L). Consumption of water with high concentration ofnitrates compromises the transmission of oxygen in the blood and could cause anincrease of the potentially lethal “blue-baby syndrome” among infants in the GazaStrip.Thedeteriorationofthesanitationservices is likelytohavealsocontributedtoincreaseintheprevalenceofwaterydiarrhealdiseaseWDDamongchildrenaged9-12months as reported byUNRWA inMarch 2009. For example in comparison to 2008figurestherewasamajorincreaseofWDDinKhanYounisby88percentandinnorthGazaby77percent[46].3.TechnologicaldisastersinOPT

BriefSummaryoftoptechnologicaldisastersAccording to the top technologicalDisastersCountryProfileofPalestine, there isnoanydatarelatedtotechnologicaldisastersrecordedintheCREDEM-DATparticularlypre1983,thefirsteventwasreportedinOct/1999relatedtoIndustrialAccidentsandupdatedwithmiscellaneousaccidentsin2007.Ontheotherhand,thereisnoanydatareportedrelatedtoeconomicdamageestimatedformthetechnologicaldisasters[47].Table7:TopTechnologicalDisastersinPalestine(WestBankandGazaStrip),1900to2013,sortedbynumbersofkilled.Disaster Date NoofKilledMiscellaneousaccident* 27-Mar-2007 765IndustrialAccident* 21-Oct-1999 20*Source:“EM-DAT:TheOFDA/CREDInternationalDisasterDatabaseTable8:TopTechnologicalDisastersinPalestine(WestBankandGazaStrip)1900to2013,sortedbynumbersoftotalaffectedpeople.Disaster Date NoofAffectedIndustrialAccidents* 21-Oct-1999 14Miscellaneousaccident* 27-Mar-2007 5*Source:“EM-DAT:TheOFDA/CREDInternationalDisasterDatabase


22

Table9:SummarizedtableofTechnologicalDisastersinPalestine(WestBankandGaza)from1900to2013

Disaster NoofEvent

NoofKilled

Totalaffected

Damage(000US$)

Industrialaccident*

Fireave.perevent

1 14 20 - 14 20

Miscellaneousaccident*

Collapseave.perevent

1 5 765 - 5 765 -

*Source:“EM-DAT:TheOFDA/CREDInternationalDisasterDatabase.4.HumanitariancomplexemergenciesintheOPTandimpactsPalestine is one of the hottest zones over the world; it is one of the world’s mostprotractedconflicts.It'slong–lastingconflictwithoutanyhumanitariansolutionsexistin the ground, The territory of the Palestinian National Authority includes twoseparated geographical areas, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip with a totalpopulationaround4million,and theyare livingunder theoccupationsince1948 tillnow.Sincetheoccupation,Palestinepassedthroughdifferenthumanitariancomplexemergencies, as a result of the unjust occupation and there ongoing colonizationpolices,aswellasthecontinuouseffortsoftheoccupiertofragmentthegeographicalareasofopt ,andviolate thePalestinianrights , theseseverhumanitariansituationsareworseningthewholeaspectofPalestinianlives.TheongoingconflictperceivedtobethemostsignificantanthropogenicdisastersoverthetimeaffectingthePalestinianpeopleintheopt,andcanincreasethepopulation’sexposure to additional hazards and erode coping mechanism at all levels ofpreparednessandresponse,whileatthesametime,theoccurrenceofdisastersduringor in the immediateaftermathofconflictcanexacerbatehumanitarianconsequenceandmaximizethevulnerabilityofpopulation.Therefore,duetothepolitical,economicandsocialconditionsdominatingtheoptthePalestinianpeopleandgovernmentintheoptfaceamultitudeofchallengesinrelationtogovernance,development,sustainability,anddisastersriskreduction,asaresultoftheseconditionsPalestineclassifiedasafragilestateandthevulnerabilityindexscoresmediumatin2012onthewebsiteofHumanitarianGlobalAssistanceGHA[48].BriefSummaryoftopman-madedisastersor/andcomplexemergencyinPalestineTheNumberofmartyrskilledintheAlAqsaIntifadabetweenSeptember20th,200andDecember 31st, 2012 was 7,766, up from7,235 at the endof 2009.Of these 2,183


23

were form theWestBank (2,059males and124 females) and5,015were fromGazaStrip (4,601 males and 414 females). The reaming martyrs were form the 1948territoriesandoutsidePalestine.Thebloodiestyearwas2009with1,219Palestinianmartyrs, followed by 2002 with 1,192martyrs, In addition, 306martyrs were killedduring2012 , 15 from theWestBankand 291 fromGaza Strip, ofwhom189werekilledduringIsraeliAttacksonGazaStripinNovember2012[49].Table10:Topman-madedisastersor/andcomplexemergencyinPalestine(WestBankandGazaStrip),1900to2013,sortedbynumbersofkilled.Disaster/ComplexEmergency Date NoofKilledAlAqsaSecondIntifada* Sep29th2000–Dec,31st,2012 7,7662008-2009Conflict** Dec27th2008–Jan,17th,2009 1,4192012Conflict*** Nov,14th2012-Nov,21st2012 182

,2013.Source:PalestinianCentralBureauofStatistics(PCBS)May* . )**source:PalestinianCenterforHumanRights(PCHR

MinistryofHealthMohGazaStrip.Source:** Table11:Topman-madedisastersor/andcomplexemergencyinPalestine(WestBankandGazaStrip),1900to2013,sortedbynumbersofaffectedpeople.Disaster/ComplexEmergency

Date Noofaffectedpeople

AlAqsaSecondIntifada* Sep29th2000–Dec,31st,2011 60,0432008-2009Conflict** Dec27th2008–Jan,17th,2009 5,0002012Conflict*** Nov,14th2012-Nov,1st2012 1,399

,2013.Source:PalestinianCentralBureauofStatistics(PCBS)May* . )**source:PalestinianCenterforHumanRights(PCHR

*** Source:MinistryofHealthMohGazaStrip.Table12:Topman-madedisastersor/andcomplexemergencyinPalestine(WestBankandGazaStrip),1900to2013,sortedbyeconomicdamagecostsDisaster/ComplexEmergency

Date Damage(000US$)

AlAqsaSecondIntifada* Sep29th2000–Dec,31st,2011 NA2008-2009Conflict** Dec27th2008–Jan,17th,2009 1.9BillionUS$2012Conflict*** Nov,14th2012-Nov,1st2012 1.2BillionUS$

**Source:PalestinianCentralBureauofStatistics(PCBS)***Source:GazaGovernment.


24

SomeofhumanitariancomplexemergenciesinOPT2008-2009Conflict“OperationCastLead”OnDecember 27, 2008, Israel launchedOperation Cast Lead CLO, amassive 22-daymilitaryassaultontheGazaStrip,theferocityoftheattackwasunprecedentedinthemore than six-decade-old conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. Throughout theoperationIsraeliforcesfrequentlyobstructedaccesstomedicalcareandhumanitarianaid for those wounded and trapped, they prevented ambulances and medical stafffromattendingtothewoundedandtransportingthemtohospitalandinseveralcasestargeted ambulance and rescue crews and others whowere trying to evacuate thewounded.Randomly placed telephone callswith recordedwarningmessages, radio broadcastsand leaflets dropped by the Israeli army all over Gaza telling people to leave theirhomes and neighborhoods causedwidespread panic but offered little protection. Insomeareasresidentsweretrappedintheirhomes,hearingtheIsraeliarmybroadcastswarningpeopletoleavebutunabletodosobecauseIsraeliforcesintheareawerenotallowinganymovementandthereforeanyonewhowentoutriskedcomingunderfire,for otherswho fled their homeswere killed or injuredwhenUN schools and otherplaceswheretheyhadsoughtsheltercameunderIsraeliattack[50].For several weeks prior to start of the Operation, the Israeli army refused to allowindependent observers, journalists, international human rights monitors andhumanitarianworkers toget intoGaza,effectively cuttingoffGaza fromtheoutsideworld,afterIsraeliforceslefton18January,thearealookedasifithadbeenwreckedbyanEarthquake.Israel and Egypt kept Gaza’s borders sealed throughout operation and itsmore 1.7million inhabitants could neither leave nor find a place in Gaza where their safetycouldbeguaranteed. Intheaftermathoftheoffensive,anUN-appointedfactfindingmissionfoundstrongevidenceofwarcrimesandcrimesagainsthumanity.CastLeadproceededintwophases:aweekofintenseaerialbombingfollowedbytwoweeksofa jointairandlandassaultandinvasion,thesurpriseattackbeganat11:30AM on December 27, 2008, with Israeli F-16 fighter jets, Apache helicopters, andunmanneddronesstrikingmorethan100locationsacrossthetiny,crowdedGazaStripwithinamatterofminutes,among the targetswere fourPalestinianpolice stations,includingthecentralpoliceheadquarters inGazaCity,whereagraduationceremonyfornewofficerswasunderway.99policepersonneland9membersofthepublicwerekilled in the first minutes of the attack. By the end of the first day at least 230Palestinians had been killed, the massive bombardment continued until January 3,2009,when the Israeli army invaded the Strip from the north and east ofGaza.OnJanuary18,2009,underenormous internationalpressure IsraeldeclaredaunilateralceasefireandwithdrewitsforcesfromGaza,Palestinianarmedgroupsfollowedwithaseparateunilateralceasefireaswell[51].


25

CasualtiesReportsoftheexactnumberofPalestinianskilledvary,butcasualtyfiguressuppliedbycredible independent nongovernmental organizations are generally consistent.TheGaza-basedPalestinianCentre forHumanRights reportedthat theoffensive left1,419Palestiniansdead,including1,167civilians,theCentrealsoreportedmorethan5,000Palestinianswounded[52]According to investigations by independentIsraeliandPalestinianhuman rightsorganizations, between 1,385 and 1,419 Palestinianswere killed during Cast Lead, amajorityofthemcivilians,includingatleast308minorsundertheageof18,morethan5000werewounded40-70%ofthethemsufferedseveretraumaticinjuries.Accordingto the UN 3,540 housing units were completely destroyed, with another 2,870sustainingseveredamage,morethan20,000peoplemanyofthemalreadyrefugeeswerehomeless.AttacksonGaza's electricity infrastructure caused anestimated$10millionindamage,accordingtotheIsraeliadvocacygroupGeisha[53].Besides, 268 private businesses were destroyed, and another 432 damaged, at anestimatedcostofmorethan$139million,accordingtoanassessmentbythePrivateSector Coordination Council, a Palestinian economic group. A separate report foundthat between 600 and 700 factories, workshops and businesses were destroyed ordamaged, according to the Palestinian Union of Businesses and the PalestinianFederationofIndustries[54].According to the UN Relief Works Agency UNRWA, which provides services toPalestinianrefugees,theoffensivedamagedalmost20,000meters(approx.12miles)of water pipes, four water reservoirs, 11wells, and sewage networks and pumpingstations. Israeli shelling, also damaged 107 UNRWA installation, eighteen schools,including 8 kindergartens, were destroyed, and at least 262 others damaged,Numerous Palestinian government buildings, including police stations, theheadquarters of the Palestinian Legislative Council PLC, and part of PalestinianPresidentMahmoudAbbas'compound,werealsodestroyed[55]After an investigation of the destruction of civilian infrastructure in Gaza, HumanRightsWatchaccusedtheIsraelimilitaryofviolatingtheinternationalbanon"wantondestruction"foundintheFourthGenevaConvention[56].Ontheotherside,accordingtoIsraeliauthorities,3IsraeliciviliansandonesoldierwerekilledbyrocketsfiredfromGazaduringCLO ,9 Israeli soldiersalsodied incombat inGaza, including4killedbyfriendlyfire,and518IsraeliswerewoundedAccordingtotheUN[57].The impact of the military operation on the health sector was severe, 16 healthworkers were killed and 25 injured, 29 ambulances were damaged or destroyed,medical facilities ran short of critical medical supplies, maternal and child healthservicesatPHClevelweredisruptedandhealthservicesforsome40%ofchronicallyillpatients had to be interrupted during the attack. In addition, medical facilities


26

sustaineddirectdamages,40PHCsoutof60and12hospitalsoutof24weredamagedtovaryingdegrees,someofthembydirecthits,anddamagestoPHCswereestimatedbetweenUSD191,030andUSD341,930.2,thefollowingtableshowingthedamagestohospitalsduringtheattack[58].

Table13:Damagestohospitals(Source:UNDPandMohGaza)

# Hospital Damage(USD) %HospitalDamages1 AL-AwadHospital 10,000 0.22 Al-WafaHospital 500,000 11,73 Al-DoraHospital* 25,000 0.64 Al-QudsHospital-PRCS 3,163,500 74,25 El-ShefaMedicalComplex* 140,000 3,36 NasserMedicalComplex* 50,000 1,27 AlNasserChildHospital 1,500 0,08 AqsaMartyrsHopspital* 85,000 2.09 EuropeanGazaHospital* 228,000 5,310 BeitHanounHospital 20,000 0,511 FataHospital 5,000 0,112 EyeHospital* 34,000 0.8Total*MOHEstimatesOnly

4,262,000 100.0

Table14:EstimadedcostofwaterandsanitationdamagebytheCLO(OCHA).

Catgory Damagesin(USD)WaterWells

1,007,000WaterReserviorsWaterHouseConectionsandWaterNetworks,WasteWaterNetworksplusContingency

4,647,740

WaterandWasteWaterFacilities 134,000NorhtGazaEmergancySewegeTreamntPlant(NGEST) 183,950Total 5,972,690

EvidenceofwarcrimesInApril 2009, following internationaloutrageat the carnage causedbyCLO, theUNHuman Rights Council established aFact Finding Missionto investigate possibleviolationsofinternationallawcommittedduringtheconflict,leadingthemissionwasJusticeRichardGoldstone,a former judgeof theConstitutionalCourtofSouthAfricaandwarcrimesprosecutorforRwandaandformerYugoslavia.ThefourmembersofthemissionvisitedGazainlateMayandearlyJune2009,holdinghearingsthereandinGeneva,theyconducted188interviewsandreviewedmorethan


27

10,000 pages of documents, more than 30 videos, and 1,200 photographs. Israelrefused to cooperatewith the inquiry, denying themission theopportunity tomeetwithIsraeliofficialsorvisittheWestBank[59].Asaresultofitsinvestigation,themissionissuedtheso-called"GoldstoneReport,"a575-page document detailing alleged war crimes and crimes against humanitycommittedbytheIsraelimilitary.ThereportalsoaccusedPalestinianarmedgroupsofwarcrimesasa resultof indiscriminate rocketsattackson Israeli civilians livingnearGaza. This report documented 36 specific cases and incidents where Israeli forcesallegedlyviolatedinternationallawsduringtheGazaoffensive,theseinclude[60]:Samouni familymassacre: Inperhapsthemost infamous incidentofthewar, Israelisoldiersorderedaround100membersoftheSamounifamily intoasinglebuildinginthe Zaytoun area of Gaza City, soldiers held the family in the building for 24 hoursbeforeshellingthebuildingonJanuary4,2009,21membersofthefamily,allofthemcivilianswerekilled.

Al-Dayafamilymassacre:OnJanuary6,anIsraeliF-16jetfiredamissileatthehomeoftheAl-Dayafamily,alsointheZaytounneighborhoodofGazaCity,killing22familymembers,mostofthemwomenandchildren.

Whiteflagkillings:TheUNmissionandhumanrightsgroupsalsodocumentedseveralcasesinwhichwitnesses saw Israeli soldiers kill Palestinianswhowere fleeingwhilecarryingmakeshiftwhiteflagstoindicatetheirstatusascivilians[61].

Useofwhitephosphorus inpopulatedareas:Rightsgroups,journalists,andtheUNmissioninGazaalsodocumentednumerousinstancesoftheuseofwhitephosphorus,anincendiarysubstancethatisillegalwhenusedinpopulatedareas.Israeliforcesusedwhitephosphorus inattacksonat least twohospitals (Al-QudsHospitalandAl-WafaHospital), as well as the central UN compound in Gaza City, numerousciviliancasualtieswerecausedbywhitephosphorusinthesmall,denselypopulatedStrip[62].

2012Conflict“OperationDefensivePillar”On14NovembertheIsraeliAirForceIAFlaunchedanairstrikethattargetedandkilleda member of Palestinian resistance groups, marking the start of the Israeli militaryoffensive“OperationDefensivePillar”whichlastedforeightdays,thiseventfollowedseveralweeksof intermittentescalations inviolenceinGazaandsouthernIsrael,theescalationwasdetrimentaltoanalreadyfragilehumanitariansituationinGazawheresome80percentofhouseholdsareinneedofassistance.This latestescalationwas characterizedby IAFairstrikesand firing from IsraelinavalvesselsandtanksintoGazaandPalestinianrocketfireintoIsrael,thetargetingbytheIsraelimilitary of residential properties inGaza resulted in a highnumberof civiliancasualties, approximately 450 housing units were destroyed or sustained majordamage, while another 8,000 houses sustainedminor damage, at the height of theescalationsome15,000estimatedtobedisplaced.Approximately12,000individualsin


28

Gaza City and Northern Gaza governorate fled their homes and they sought toemergencyshelterssetupin14UNRWAandtwogovernmentschools[63].Followingsustained diplomatic efforts, an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire between Israel andPalestinianresistancegroupsenteredintoforceon21November.

Casualties

The PalestinianMoH reported 182 fatalities (158males and 24 females) during theeightdaysofhostilities:47(26%)children,including16under5yearsold,12womenand20adultsabove60yearsold.Mostofthefatalities(87.9%)hadmultipleinjuries.TheMoHalsoreported1399injuries,28%femaleand37%(516)children,onethirdofwhomwereunder5yearsold ,28.3%of injurieswereattheheadandneck,19%inmore than one location of the body, 17%, 13% in the upper limbs and 13% weresuperficialwounds[64].HumanitarianImpactoftheconflictDisplacementThe operation led to an estimated internal displacement of 14,920 people from allGazagovernorates(Seethefigures8,9)[65].

Figure8:IDPsbyGovernorate(Source:OCHA)


29

Figure9:RelativedistributionandnumbersofIDPs,GazaStrip(Source:OCHA)ExplosiveremnantsofwarERWWidespreadERWrequireamorerapidandprioritizedresponseinmostgovernoratesoftheGazaStrip,howeverthesehugequantitiesofERWcreatedconsiderablethreatand fear among residents, and leave themvulnerable to risksof unexplodedbombs[66].PsychosocialImpactPsychosocialimpactandstresscausedbytheintensityofthehostilitieswasreported,whilechildrenhavesufferedinsomnia,hyperactivity,nocturnalenuresis(bedwetting),fear,anxietytoPTSD.DamagetoWaterandSanitationFacilitiesTheevidenceofdamagesor interruptionstoWASHfacilities,certaingovernorates inthestriphavebeenrendereddisproportionatelyvulnerablebylimitedaccesstowater,the presence of solid waste close to shelters (20m) and unprotected hazard areasclosetowatersupplies[67].Health


30

In immediate response, the Ministry of Health MoH in Gaza formed a crisismanagement unit and opened an emergency command and control room at Shifahospital which together with other hospitals, handled most of the casualty cases.However, the most pressing health issues was the access to drugs and medicaldisposables, as well as one of themain challenges to the health sector before andduringtheconflictwastheavailabilityofdrugsandmedicalsupplies;morethan40%of the essential drug items in the essential drug list andmore than 50%ofmedicalconsumableswereoutofstockbeforeandduringthecrisis.Therecentescalationexacerbatedpre-existingdruganddisposableshortagesduetothehighdemandforpharmaceuticalsandconsumables to treat the largenumberofinjuredpersonssufferingvariouskindsof trauma, including fracturesandburns,andthelargenumberofsurgeries[68].MoHandUNRWAreportedthat13hospitalsandPHCcenterswerepartiallydamageddue to indirect shelling (9MoH, 4 UNRWA). The Jordanian Field Hospital sustainedseriousdamageafterbeingdirectlyhit,whiletwootherhospitalstheGazaEuropeanand Beit Hanoun hospitals sustainedminor damages [69]. The EMS reported that 3ambulance drivers were injured during the war. In addition, 6 ambulances weredamaged,4oftheseambulancesweredamagedbyshrapnel,and2ambulanceswereinvolved in accidents while transferring causalities. During the eight days, hospitalsoperatedby theMoh inGazawere functioningbutstruggling tocopewith the largenumberofinjurieswithseverelydepletedmedicalsupplies.Destroyed/DamagedHousingUnitsBasedonlocalgovernmentestimatesthenumberofhousingunitswhichdamagedorevendestroyedacrossthestripwashuge[70].(Seefigure10,11)

Figure10:DamagedandDestroyedHomestotalsbygovernment(Source:OCHA)


31

Figure11:RelativeDistributionandNumbersofDamagedindestroyedhomes(Source:OCHA)5.Maindisaster'sriskfactorsinOPT

According tomany different reports and studies addressing themain risk factors ofdisaster inOptandtheeffectsoftheseonthepopulation,thesereportsandstudiesshowedthatoptisoneofthehottestareafordisasters intheworld,particularlythehumanitariancomplexemergencieswhichgoingonformorethan6decadeswithoutexisting any possible humanitarian solutions due to the Israeli Occupation and theircolonizing polices. Palestinian people they are high vulnerable to the complexemergenciesandon-goingconflictmorethannaturaldisasters,eventhough insome


32

areasinPalestineparticularlyWestBankthereishighrisktonaturaldisasterssuchasearthquakeandseismicsiteeffects.HumanitarianscomplexemergenciesisthefirstoneofthemainriskfactorsinOPTaswellasotherleadingfactors.Sincethe1948(PalestinianNakba)thePalestinianpeoplehave been suffering from this endless conflict,which leave themhigh vulnerable tonegative consequences of this conflict, according to different statistical reports ofPalestinianCentralBureauofStatisticsPCBSthehighnumbersofeffected,killedandinjuredpeoplegoingbacktothereasonofongoingconflictbetweenthePalestiniansandIsraelis,forinstance.TheNumberofMartyrskilledintheAlAqsaIntifadabetweenSeptember20th,200andDecember 31st,2012 was 7,766, of these 2,183 were form the West Bank, and5,015were fromGaza Strip, and the bloodiest yearwas 2009with 1,219 Palestinianmartyrs, followed by 2002 with 1,192martyrs, In addition, 306martyrs were killedduring 2012, 15 from theWest Bank and 291 fromGaza Strip, ofwhom 189werekilledduringIsraeliAttacksonGazaStripinNovember2012[71].Ontheothersside,Palestine isalsoconsideringanaturaldisasterspronearea,sincethere is a high risk and probability to flash floods, droughts, desertification,earthquakes and its mostly local site effects such as landslides, liquefaction andamplification, according to different studies and researches conduct related to thiskindofdisasters.West Bank is in high risk for natural disasters more than Gaza Strip especially theearthquakes and it's local side effects such as landslides, liquefaction andamplification,duetothegeographicalareaofWestBank,aswellasGazahavebeeninariskforthesedisastersandsignificantlyenvironmentalandwaterdeteriorations.Astudy conducted in many areas in West Bank “An Assessment on Disaster RiskReduction in the Opt " showed that several urban areas have high vulnerability tolandslidesandtheprobabilityoftheseoccurrenceswillbeincreasediftheseareasarehitbystrongearthquakes.Lackoflanduse,planningcode,randomurbanexpansionandmanagementpracticesthese factors have increased the vulnerability of seismic site effects (landslides,liquefactionandamplification)[72].Droughts,desertificationandfloodsarethemainnaturalhazardsfacedbytheruralpopulationintheregionaswell.Inadditiontothatthe vulnerability of flooding has increased due to the lack of land use planning andpolicy.Furthermore,thewaterflooding,landslidesanddesertificationwillreducetheuseof landforagriculture,causepollutionoftheundergroundwaterandreducetheamount of reliable drinking water as well. Moreover, vulnerabilities of properties,personsandinstitutionscouldbeclassifiedashighlyvulnerableinPalestine,includingsocial,economic,physicalandenvironmentalfactors.Basedon the locationand the seismicityof the region, anearthquakeofmagnitudemore than 6 is expected to happen at any time in the near future, taking intoconsiderationthe1927earthquake,andwillbeepicenteredinthenorthoftheDead


33

Sea,causingseveredamageandlossduelargelytothehighvulnerabilityofcommonbuildings.On theotherhand, thepredictedearthquake couldbeepicentered in thesouthernpartoftheDeadSeaaccordingtootherstudiesintheregion[73].Local site effect landslides, liquefaction, amplification and faulting systems play animportantroleintheintensityofearthquakesinPalestine.Thus,Earthquake-resistantdesigns of new structures and the evaluation of seismic vulnerability of existingbuildingsaretakenintoaccountinregardstositegroundmotions.The topography and geology of theWest Bank have been themain reasons behindseveral quite large landslides occurring over the past ten years [74]. Also, historicalearthquakesindicatethathistoricalPalestinesufferedwithseverallandslides,andduetoitsgeologyandlocationtheGazaStripisexpectedtofaceliquefactionphenomenainseveralareasifastrongearthquakeoccurredintheregioninthefuture.Recentstudiesoflargedestructiveearthquakeshaveshownthatdamagesduringtheearthquakes are often caused by the amplification of seismicwaves in near-surfacegeology,wherethepostdisasterdamageassessmentshowedthatthelocalsiteeffectmayhaveadominantcontributiontotheintensityofdamageanddestruction[75].Theeffectsoflocalgeologyonground-motionamplificationandbuildingdamagewerestudied recently in few areas in the West Bank [76] The results showed that theamplificationfactorvariedbetweenaround1and9andevenwhenthestudiedareasweresmall.Toavoidthesiteeffect:landslides,liquefaction,amplificationandfaultingsystemsinOPT,micro-zonationmapsareneeded.Incidentsofflashfloodinghaveclaimedthelivesofhundredsofpeopleovertheyearsandaffectedthelivesandlivelihoodsofthousandsintheregion.IntheJordanValleyinMarch2003,wherefloodingoftheJordanRiverduetoheavyrainscausedextensivedamagetofarmland,resultinginthelossofanentireseason'scropsformanyfamilieslivinginthearea.The probability of drought and desertification with their associated adverseconsequences on economy and society are ever-present concerns in arid regions.Waterhasalwaysbeenatthecenterofconflictsintheregion,therecentexperiencewith drought has renewed. Due to it's geopolitical situation, geographical andgeologicalposition,PalestinecouldsufferinthefuturefromtheHazardtypesshowinin (table12 ),alsodue to the limited resourcesandhighvulnerability, it isexpectedthat the effect of most of the above risks will be high, it will adversely affect theeconomy,society,environment,healthandothersectors[77].Like many countries, the opt faces the challenges of rapid urbanization, most ofPalestiniancitiesinWestBankinparticulararelocatedinearthquakeproneareas,thisdirectlycontributestoarapidincreaseinthevulnerability intermsofthenumberofpeopleandinfrastructuresexposed.Agreatvarietyofinfrastructuresexistinbuildingmaterials,designandconstructionquality,structuralandnon-structuralelementsare


34

common. Seismic-proof construction is rarely observed andbuilding codes in designandpracticesarenotenforced.Recent studies on the “vulnerability of buildings” for the main Palestinian cities(Jerusalem, Hebron, Ramallah, Nablus, Jenin, Tulkarem and Jericho) have beenconducted by the Earth Sciences and Seismic Engineering Center ESSEC at An-NajahNationalUniversity[78].Theresultsshowedthataroundonethirdofthe investigatedbuildingsbelongtotheclassAofseismicvulnerability“accordingtotheEuropeanMacro-seismicscale1998”manybuildingswillsufferheavydamage,whereasabout40%ofthebuildingsareinclassBwillsuffermoderatedamage,seefigure12.

Figure12:SeismicVulnerabilityofPalestinianCommonBuilding(Al-Dabbeek2007a)Based on these vulnerability indicators and expected earthquake intensities, totaldamage of 5-15% and partial damage of 20% are predicted in some areas ofPalestinian cities. The high vulnerability to damages and losses in the buildings andinfrastructuresinoptareadirectresultofthehighpercentageofweakbuildingsandinfrastructuresthatdonotcomplywithseismicresistantrequirements.This situationwas createdby thedifferentmajor factors: bad constructionpracticesandcommonfataldesignmistakesofthebuildings,Lackofanationalcodeforseismicdesignconstruction,absenceofnationallegislativelawsandregulationsforprotectionagainstearthquakes,aswellasabsenceofeffectivemechanisms[79].


35

Table15:MainTypesofHazardsinOPT.

HazardTypeProb.

Occurance

Prob.Damage Priority

TotalDamage(Last10Years)

LastEvent

FlashFlood Low Low-limited Third Milliondollars

1963,1966,1987,1991,2009,2012,2013

Earthquake High High First * Drought Medium Highinlongrun

Second Tensmillionsــ

Mud/landslide,rockfalls,avalanches

Medium Medium-High Second Millions 1992,1997,2003,2005,2012***

Epidemic Low Low Third Millions 1981,2010Industrialaccident High Medium-High First Millions 1999,2006Pop.displacement/refugeeinflux

High High First Tensmillions2001,2006,

Seadisaster Medium Highinlongrun Second TensMillionsـPollutionUndergroundwater

High High Second Tensmillionsـ

Desertification High Highinlongrun Second TensmillionsـOccupation,War High High First Billions 2000-

2006,2008-2009,12

Miscellinence Low Low Third 2007

Pollutionandenvironmentalproblemsinoptareexacerbatedbylimitednaturalfreshwater, overgrazing, deforestation, soil erosion and desertification, to fightenvironmental pollution Palestinian governmental and non-governmentalorganizations have developed special measures and awareness programs and haveparticipatedinmanyinternationalactivitiesandagreementsrelatedtoclimatechangeand environment protection. Major events triggered by seismic activity, namelyclimatechangeorclimatevariabilitymaybecometrans-boundary[80].Arecentstudyconducted in IslamicUniversity InGazaStrip"InvestigatetheDisasterManagementProcessIntheGazaStrip"showedthatthemajorfactorsaffectingthedisastermanagementprocess inGazawere the insufficient financial resources at allstagesofDRR , lackof localexpertise indisastermanagement, thedonor’sability tofund the reconstruction projects, the weak government institutions during theimmediatepost-disaster period, documentation systemandarchivingprior to townsandlandholdingsandInadequateearlywarningsystem


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Thestudy recommendedsomepossible solutions toovercomethese faucets trough:identifyingthevulnerablepeopleandhazardsareaswithinthedistricts;ensuringthatallmembersofthecommunityareawareofthepotentialeffectsofnaturaldisasters;disseminatingadvicenotesandgoodpracticeguidesfordisaster;maintainingcontactwith officials responsible for planning, construction, health and welfare, by issuingwarnings,orprovidingfireandcrowdcontrolsystems;lowpublicawarenessbecausedisasterisseenasanactofGodandcommunicationsystem[81].

Table16:Disastersgroupsandsub-groupsinOPT

DisastersGroups DisastersSub-Groups Hazard/Risk

Natural

Geophysical Earthquakes,MassMovement(Dry),Avalanches,Landslides

Metrological Strom

Climatologically ExtremeTemperature,Droughts

Hydrological FlashFlood,MassMovement(wet)

Biological EpidemicOutbreaks

Technological

IndustrialAccidents Factoriesandothers

Miscellaneousaccident Others

TransportAccidents Roadaccidents

NuclearRisk DimonaReactor

Man-madecomplexEmergencies

Ongoingconflict,Violence,Emergencies,warandcivilunrest

Ongoing conflict between thePalestiniansandIsraelis


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6.StrategiesofdisasterpreventionandresponseinOPTIn terms of factors effecting on the disasters risk reduction in Opt, the Israelioccupation of Palestine, which is one of the leading factors for exacerbated thehumanitarian situations andmaximize the vulnerability of population, aswell as themost important challenge because of its direct and indirect effects on the work ofnationalorganizations,aswellasthelackofsufficientresourcesallocatedtocarryoutactivities of disaster risk reduction at all administrative levels. On the other hand,national policy for DRR exists but is not being implemented properly, and it is notintegratedeffectivelyinsectorialpoliciesandnationaldevelopmentplans.The Palestinian Authority they are under the ongoing implementation of the HyogoFramework for Action HFA since 2009, and they developing strategic plan for thisimplementation in the OPT, and till now they made some progress towards theimplementation,however,theimplementingofHFAtakeplaceintheWestBankcities,in Gaza strip is not in place or even in the agenda of Gaza Government basicallybecauseofgeopoliticalreasonswithcitesofWestBank.Thefollowingaretheareasofactionsandthestrategicgoalsaswell[82]:

Area 1: to ensure the more effective integration of DRR into sustainabledevelopment policies, planning and programming at all levels in OPT, with aspecialemphasisonmitigation,preparednessandvulnerabilityreduction,thereare many strategic studies and plans have been prepared to mitigate theconsequences of disasters in the field of health, agriculture, civil protection.Moreover, the Palestinian have been working with partners to integrate thedisastersmanagementpolicesintothedevelopmentplans.Area2:toensurethestrengtheningofinstitutions,mechanismsandcapacitiesatalllevels,inparticularatthecommunitylevel,thatcansystematicallycontributetobuilding resilience tohazards, thePalestinianAuthorities theyareobviouslyworking to empower the leading role of theHigher Council of CivilDefense inPalestine,withestablishapowerfulequippedcadrestocopetodisasters,aswellascarryingouttrainingcoursesinwholeprovincesintheareaoffirstaid,rescue,ambulance anddisastermedicine, through close cooperation and coordinationbetweenallinstitutions.Area3:toensurethesystematicincorporationofriskreductionapproachesintothe design and implementation of emergency preparedness, response andrecovery programmes in the reconstruction of affected communities, thePalestinianstheymadesomehowprogressindevelopinginter-institutionaljointstrategicplan,mechanisms,strongprograms inthefieldofdisastersreduction,aswellasintegratingtheDRRinthelawandlegislationswithcooperationwithLawofcivildefense.


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ThefollowingaresomeachievementsandprogressintheprioritiesofHFAinOPT:1.ToEnsureDRRisanationalandalocalprioritywithastronginstitutionalbasisforimplementation,someprogresshavebeenmadeinopt,butwithoutsystematicpolicyand institutional commitment due to the weakness in the resources under theoccupation, as a result national policy and legal framework for DRR exists withdecentralized responsibilities at all levels as a key indicator. To this aim, DRR wasincludedintheNationalDevelopmentPlan2010andotherplanssuchas;SecurityandHealth sectors, Climate Change Policy and Strategy, Poverty Reduction Strategy,CommonCountryAssessmentsCCA,take intoconsideration,theseplans intheplaceonlyinWestBank[83].Ontheotherhand,theframeworkfordevelopmentassistanceoftheUnitedNationsUNDAF devoted part of the aid for capacity development in the area of riskmanagement,particularlytrainingandrehabilitationforCivilDefense.Besides,2.26%allocatedfromPalestiniannationalbudgettoDRRprograms,asWellas12millionUSDallocatedtohazardproofingsectorialdevelopmentinvestments(e.g.transport,agriculture,infrastructure)[84].2. Multi–hazard risk assessments based on hazard and vulnerability data wereachievedwithsustainedcommitmentatalllevels,ingeneralthereareseveralstudiesto assess the risks and threats in the place and sensitive buildings such as somehospitals and schools are built according to the recommendations of the seismicengineering in West Bank . As for the natural disasters all the information isdocumented such as the seismic record, landslides, epidemics and diseases, waterscarcity,butthere isn'tasystematicandcomprehensiveanalysisofdataondisastersand climate change. Early warning systems are in place for all major hazards, withoutreach to communities, however, risk prone communities not receive timely andunderstandable warnings of impending hazard events as well as there is nocommunication system and protocols in disasters, in other side, somehow of localpeopletheyhavepreparednessknowledgetocopewithsmallscaledisastersandthemediahavebeeninvolvinginearlywarningdissemination[85].3.Relevantinformationondisastersisavailableandaccessibleatsomelevelsinopttoallstakeholders,throughanationaldisasterinformationsystemwhichisaccessibleinWest Bank more that Gaza Strip, some of these information system are: " TheGovernment Media Office, Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics PCBS andPalestinianCivilDefense.Researchmethodsand tools formulti-risk assessments and costbenefit analysis aredeveloped and strengthened. In Palestine DRR included in the national scientificapplied-researchagenda,countrywidepublicawarenessstrategyexiststostimulateacultureofdisasterresilience,withoutreachtourbanandruralcommunities,aswellasthereispubliceducationcampaignsandtrainingoflocalgovernment[86].


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4. The integration of DRR as an integrated component in environment protectionprogramsandnaturalresourcesmanagementisintheplace.Economicandproductivesectorial policies and plans have been implemented to reduce the vulnerability ofeconomicactivities,inthisfiledthereissomeprogress,butwithoutsystematicpolicyand/orinstitutionalcommitment,thereisinvestmenttoreducetheriskofvulnerableurbansettlements throughonly investment indrainage infrastructure in floodproneareasandslopestabilizationinlandslideproneareas[87].5.TechnicalandinstitutionalmechanismswithaDRRperspectiveareinplacetomakeschoolsandhealthfacilitiesreadyandsafeinemergencies[88],thecontingencyplans,proceduresandresourcesinplacetodealwithamajordisasters.Thereisapresidentialdecreetocreateacontingencyfundtocopewithdisasters,butit is not activated and it does not have the financial reserves because we are adependentcountryonforeignfinancialassistance.7.GeneralinformationaboutDRRorganizationsinOPT

Despitetheverydifficultpolitical,socialandeconomicsituationinourregion,theoptis very well known for investment in human capital, many national agencies havedemonstratedprofessionalcapabilitiesinvarioussectorsofriskreduction,awareness,trainingrelatingtoDRR.Moreover,thepossibilityofintentionalNGOsprovidingmoreassistance and playing a more active role in preparedness and response incollaboration with the concerned governmental departments. The followingorganizationshavegoodcapabilitiesandexperiencesinopt.GovernmentalOrganizationsandMinistries[98]TheMinistryofInteriorandHigherCouncilofCivilDefenseHCCDRepresents the national body for disaster management, headed by the Minister ofInteriorandtheDirectorGeneralofPalestinianCivilDefense,theyareplayingamajorroleindisastersresponseandpreparedness,however,thereistwoseparatedcouncilsinWestBankandGaza Strip , and theyworking individually as result of geopoliticalsituations.TheMinistryofPlanningThemissionoftheministryistosupportnationaldifferentdevelopmentinitiativesandplans,includingdevelopingdisasterspreparednessandresponseplansincooperationwiththeconcernednationalandinternationalorganizations.TheMinistryofHealthandrelatedorganizationsInadditiontotheirnormalactivities,MoHworksinemergencyconditionsallthetime,becauseof thepolitical and security conditions inopt,despite the limited resources


40

theyhave,MoHworkswithinthecapabilitiesavailablewithoutaclearlydefinedplantodealwithdisastersandtheyworkingtogetherwithothernationalandinternationalorganizationsincaseofemergencycomplex,naturaldisastersandepidemicoutbreaks.TheMinistryofPublicWorksandHousingandMinistryofLocalGovernmentDedicate all available resources for the rescue operations and all related actions, inaddition to their normal activities related to issuing building licenses; maintaininginfrastructuresandmanyothersectorsofthepeople’slife,aswellastheyhaveleadingroleinrecoveryandreconstructionafterthedisasters.TheMinistryofTransportCollect a database of the owners of heavy duty equipment and other tools (bulldozers,excavators, trucks, loaders, cranes etc.), aswell asmonitoring and forecasting theweatherconditionsthroughthemeteorologicaldepartment.TheYouthSector(MinistryofEducation,MinistryofYouthandsports)Allhumanresources,assetsandcapabilitiesdevotedtosupport in therelief, rescue,andevacuationintimesofdisastersandemergencies.TheMinistryofAgricultureWorkingtomitigatetheeffectofpossiblenaturaldisastersandcomplexemergenciesontheagriculturallandandensurefoodsecurity.Other NGOs, related to risk reduction: The Ministry of Telecommunications andInformation Technology, theMedia, theWater Authority and EnvironmentalQualityAuthority.Non-GovernmentalOrganizationsThePalestinianRedCrescentSocietyPRCSThePalestinianRedCrescentSocietyhaspaidspecialattentiontotheissueofdisasterssince it was established in 1968, PRCS is considered one of the most importantorganizationsinthisarea,ItsactivitiescoverallofthePalestinianterritoryWestBank,Gaza Strip and Jerusalem, It has played a very effective and major role during thesecond Intifada and Complex emergencies during Gazawars, PRCS has 22 branchescovering all governorates and with more than 2000 very well equipped volunteersworkingundertheUnitofDisasters[90].TheEarthSciencesandSeismicEngineeringCenterESSECTheEarthSciencesandSeismicEngineeringCenteratAn-NajahNationalUniversity istheonly specialist center in theopt in the fieldsofnatural risk assessment,disaster


41

managementandearthquakeengineering.Sinceit’sestablishmentinSeptember1996,ESSEC oriented it’s activities; awareness, training, teaching studies and research tocover all sectors of people like citizens, professionals and decision makers in WestBankonly[91].TheNationalAgencyforDisasterRiskMitigationNADRMTheNational Agency for Disaster RiskMitigationwas founded July 31st 2006, It hasbeen responsible for the formation of a national framework that gathers all of theNGOsworkinginthefieldofdisastermanagementandemergencysupport,inadditiontoplanningandconductingcapacitybuildingandqualityassuranceprograms for theconcernedorganizations.Mostimportantly,thisnationalagencyisonlyworkingintheWest Bank cities without integrated Gaza Strip in their activities, However, GazaGovernment with support from intentional and national agencies they workingcollectivelytodevelopanationalagency[92].Other NGOs: The Palestinian Engineer’s Association, The Palestinian Contractor’sUnion, Union of Health Care Committees UHCC, Research Centre land, UnionCommittees of Agriculture Relief, Hydrological Group, and the Applied ResearchInstitute–Jerusalem.InGazaStripthePalestinianAgriculturalReliefCommitteesPARC[93],UnionofHealthWorkcommitteesUHWC,EnvironmentalFriendsAssociationaswell.Concerning the universities, in the West Bank, An-Najah University has the WaterEnvironmentalStudiesInstitute,whileBirZeitUniversityhasacenterforwaterstudiesaswell.InGazatheIslamicUniversityhasthecenterofEnvironmentStudies,whileAl-AzharUniversityhasthecenterforWaterStudies.Inaddition to theabovementionedorganizations, thereareother INGOssupportingtheresilientofPalestiniancivilsocietiestodisastersandcomplexemergenciesthroughfunding different programs ofmitigation and preparations through several scope ofworks. As examples; UNDP/ PAAP, Catholic Relief Services CRS, Christian Aid,InternationalCommitteeofRedCrossICRC,IFRCincollaborationwiththePRCS,FoodandAgriculturalOrganizationFAO,WorldHealthOrganizationWHO,DoctorswithoutBordersMSF,OxfamInternationalWASHandSafetheChildren.8.Challengesandgaps1. One of themain challenges is the Israeli Occupation and it's colonize policies,whicheffectdirectlyonthedevelopmentoftheDRRprogramsatalllevels,aswellastheGazaSiege imposedby the Israeli since2006 ,which leavepeoplehighvulnerable toongoingcomplexhumanitarianemergencysituations.2. Lacking awareness of the natural hazard, human vulnerability and social risksparticularlyinGazaStrip.


42

3. Weak of capacity and training in disaster risk management and policyimplementationatdifferentgovernmentlevelinopt.4. Legal frameworks for DRR are very limited, with more focusing on the responseactivities,wherepreventionormitigationismissing.5.Lackofappropriatesupportforthecivildefenseintermsofresources,trainingandotherneeds,whichresultedinlackofspecializedandwelltrainedhumanrecoursesinrescue operations particularly in Gaza , as well as the absence of well-equippedoperationscentralroomsonthenationallevelscoveringwholedifferentgovernorates.6.ThelocationoftheoptbetweenIsraelandJordan,inadditiontoitsverysmallarea,makeitveryvulnerabletodifferenttypesofdisastersespeciallyearthquakes,andtheemergency support from these countrieswill be very limited since theywill also beaffectedbythedisaster.7. Lack of adequate coordination among different governmental and non-governmentalorganizationsandtheprivatesectoraswell.8.AbsenceofaclearandcomprehensivenationalplanforDRRandriskmanagement.9. Absence of land use policy planning, codes and regulationswhich emphasize thesafetyrequirementsinthebuildingsinGazaStripandsomehowinWestBank.9.RecommendationsTheoverallrecommendationsprovidedinthisprofilehavebeendeducedbasedontheavailabledataondisasters,risks,capacityandvulnerabilityassessmentsinopt[94].To ensure quick and adequate national emergencyresponse to disaster, thefollowingpreparednessactivitiesshouldbetakenintotoconsideration;1- Improve the Civil Defense capacity to cope with different disasters, and createcoordinationsystemforoperationalemergency responsewithotherkeyplayersandclusters.2-Workonaccomplishingstand-byplansforeachinstitutioninordertoenablethemtodealwithemergencysituations.3- Conducting emergency response capacity building and regular simulations for alllevels.4-Developingpublicawarenessprogrammesforthesafetymeasureswithinthelocalcommunity.5-Developingdiseasesurveillancesystemsfornaturaldisastersandemergencies.


43

To reduce vulnerabilities in natural disasters, the disasters preparedness andresponseactivitiesshouldbeenhancedthrough;1-Holdingnationalworkshopsandtrainingcoursestodiscusscriticalissuesintermsofnaturaldisasterssuchasearthquakesandfloods.2- Develop legislations to control the land use policy in a way that maintains thesustainable development, environment stability, to reduce the risks of earthquakes,landslidesandothernaturaldisastersthroughriskandhazardmappingproneareas.3- Include courses of riskassessment,seismic vulnerability, seismicdesignofbuildings, safety and disaster management as courses part of engineeringfacultiesintheopt,andotherfaculties,mostimportantlycoursesinemergencyhealthresponsesandcontingencyplans.4-Establishingclearmechanismsformonitoringandevaluatingdisasterpreparednessandresponseactivities.5-Developing thewarming systemandusing technologicalmethods tomitigate theeffects of disasters through enforcing scientific researches and informationdisseminations.

To improve the resilienceofPalestiniancommunities todisastersandemergencies,

thefollowingactivitiesshouldbetakingintoconsideration;1-Encourage all governmental and non-governmental institutions to adopt theHugoFrameworkforActions2005–2015andencouragetheinternationalorganizationstoconsiderthisintheirfuturedevelopmentprojects.2-EstablishnationalplatformforDRRatall levels,aswellasdevelopinguptodateanational disasters database, including complex emergency database for eachgovernorateorcity.3- Develop special programmes to enhance the capacities of those working in themediaonhowtoperformbefore,duringandafternaturaldisastersandemergenciesingeneral.4-Considerefficientandlogicaldistributionofhospitals,healthcentersandallcentersrelatedtoresponse,tocoverasmuchaspossibleofareas.Furthermoreto theabovementionedrequiredmeasures, thehealthsectorsandtherescueoperationsshouldbegivenpriority,thisincludes:developinganationalmentalhealth plan to manage the psychosocial aspects of disaster. On the other side,strengthenthejointcoordinatingamongwholerelatedbodiesinopttoimplementtheTen-pointChecklistformakingPalestiniancitiesresilient.


44

10.DiscussionandconclusionsPalestineisanaturaldisastersproneareaparticularlyearthquakes,floods,landslides,droughts,desertificationand liquifcation,thesedisasters leavethePalestinianshighvulnerable to be affected. On the other side, Palestine is a mostly complexemergenciesproneareasince1948,andaccordingtomanynationalandinternationalstatistical reports themajority of causalities, personal andproperties loss aswell asdamagescomingbacktotheon-goingconflictbetweenthePalestinianandIsraelis.AsaresultoftheuniquePalestiniancase,nogeographicconnectionbetweentheGazaStrip andWest Bank, the complications caused by the occupation , nonexistence ofnational armed forces, weaknesses of national programs and public policies onpreparedness,mitigation,andemergency response,aswell as theweak institutionalcapacityindisastermanagementandrescueoperations,thesefactorseffectnegativelyon the implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action in the whole region ,nevertheless there isminor achievement in the some cities remarkably in theWestBankrelatedtodisasterspreparednessandresponse.In theOccupiedPalestinianTerritory, fewnationalbodiesarekeyplayers indisasterriskmanagementandresponse,butallofthemarefacingconsiderablecapacitygapsand challenges, which were identified in this profile and recommendations wereprovidedtoaddressthesegaps.Nationalpoliciesandlegislationsarefocusingtowardsrescueandreliefactivities indifferent regionsof thecountry in timeofdisasters ,sothereisaneedtoshiftthistodisasterpreparednessandpreventionandincorporatingdisaster management into the development plans of the country, considering thedisaster as national priority towards the implementation of “Hyogo Framework forAction”.Sincecommunicationtothepubliciscriticalinreducingtheimpactofdisastersonthecommunity, there isaneed todevelop risk communicationsprogramsasan integralpart of all plans in all levels especially in Gaza Strip, these proposed riskcommunications programs could incorporate risk awareness, community educationabout risks and precautionary measures, warning systems for critical situations. Inaddition, the use of media for disseminating awareness programmes should bebroadenedandencouragedsothatthemessagewillreachalargeraudience.Initiatives on national cooperation are very limited, however, the humanitarianorganizationsinoptcanplayacrucialroleindevelopingbilateralandmulti-laterallinkswithWestBankandGazaStripinDRR,andgenerateusefulinformationinthisfiled.


45

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