United Nations
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
FIELD UPDATE ON GAZA FROM THE HUMANITARIAN COORDINATOR

10 - 16 February 2009, 1700 hours

Violent incidents continue to undermine the Gaza cease-fire. On 14 February, a 13 year-old Palestinian boy was killed when Israeli troops opened fire from the border east of Jabalia. On the same day, an alleged militant was killed, and three other people were injured, when the Israeli Air Force targeted a motorcycle with air-to-ground missiles east of Abassan, and six people were injured when Israeli missile fire hit a wood-work factory in Jabalia Camp. Militants in Gaza fired rockets or mortars towards Israel daily during the reporting period, targeting both Israeli bases along the border and towns inside Israel. The Israeli Air Force also conducted airstrikes daily during the reporting period, except on 11 February. On 13 February, Israeli patrol boats opened fire on Palestinian fishing boats, and Israeli troops opened fire on a group of Palestinian farmers working close to the border area on the same day. On 15 February, Israeli tanks and bulldozers entered Gaza and leveled land south-east of Maghazi Camp. On 16 February, one person was killed and four wounded by an unexploded ordnance in Beit Lahia.
On 12 February, the UN Secretary-General announced that the UN Board of Inquiry into incidents in Gaza had commenced its work in New York earlier that day; it is expected to travel soon to the region. The Board of Inquiry will ‘review and investigate a number of specific incidents that occurred in the Gaza Strip between 27 December 2008 and 19 January 2009 and in which death or injuries occurred at, and/or damage was done to, United Nations premises or in the course of United Nations operations’.

Mine Action

Disposal of explosive ordnance is ongoing. Mines Advisory Group (MAG) has conducted reconnaissance of a number of sites in the Gaza and Rafah areas which were believed to be contaminated with unexploded ordnance. Items found will be removed or destroyed as soon as a suitable storage/demolition site has been identified and approved by the Israeli and Gazan authorities. On 9 February, teams also removed and destroyed white phosphorus wedges discovered by pupils in a school in Tal El Hawa, Gaza.
The identification of a suitable area to which unexploded ordnance can be stored and/or demolished remains a major constraint, as is the inability to bring in any of the materials and equipment needed to destroy or isolate the ordnance.
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