Constant fuel shortages and insufficient infrastructure have brought about a “humanitarian crisis” for Palestinians in the occupied Gaza Strip, World Bank warned on Thursday.
In a report ahead of an international donor conference next week, the World Bank said that foreign aid alone cannot rescue the stagnant Palestinian economy without practical changes and Israeli cooperation.
Gaza’s sole electricity plant frequently runs out of fuel for its generators and rations power supplies to as little as four hours per day.
The coastal enclave imports diesel for the generators through the Palestinian Authority (PA), dominated by Fatah, which always teases the Palestinians due to electing its rival Hamas in the general elections in 2006.
“During summer and winter peaks the scarce electricity supply is increasingly rationed to four hours during daytime,” the report quotes the bank’s West Bank and Gaza Director Marina Wes as saying.
“Recently, this situation has become the norm leaving Gazans without electricity during most of the day. This has created a humanitarian crisis for Gaza’s two million people.”
The shortages hit hospitals, clinics, water supply and other vital services, as well as household needs, she said.
“The PA needs to address reforms to ensure that payment obligations to electricity suppliers are met as this will encourage the needed private generation investment,” the bank said.
“This is particularly important in Gaza to allow the construction of a high-voltage line from Israel to contribute to the relief of the energy crisis.”
“Easing of Israeli restrictions on external trade… and opening up access to Gaza is essential to expand private sector growth and employment,” the report said. Israel and Egypt maintain a security blockade on Gaza. The blockade is backed by the international community.
“If both the PA and the Government of Israel implement changes, the impact of donor aid would increase significantly,” it added.
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