East Jerusalem Humanitarian Overview January 2011

UNITED NATIONS

Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

occupied Palestinian territory

HUMANITARIAN OVERVIEW January 2011

East Jerusalem Humanitarian Overview

January 2011

East Jerusalem Humanitarian Overview

January 2011

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The Planning Crisis in East Jerusalem

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19872005

Jerusalem – Restricted space BARRIER

ConstructedUnder constructionPlanned

E1 project

Palestinian built-up areaSettlement

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Shrinking Space for Palestinians in E. Jerusalem

• Restrictive planning• Restrictive permit

regime• Shortfall of about

1,100 HU/year

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Building Conditions in East Jerusalem

Palestinian construction severely limited: • Reduced space for development of communities• No construction in “green” or unplanned areas• Detailed plan necessary for permit• Public infrastructure required• Plot ratio limits in planned areas• High fees to obtain a permit• Reduced space for development of communities

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House Demolitions in East Jerusalem

• 100 demolitions a year (av.)

• > 1,500 pending orders• > 60,000 vulnerable

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45

8

0

0

5

10 0

7

7

1

8

0

0

4

7

#

0

00

10

7

Demolition site and no. of people displaced between 1 January and 23 April

Threatened Houses

Tel Al Foul75 threatened houses, 1000+ inhabitantsSheikh JarrahEviction orders: 28 houses, 500+ inhabitantsAl Bustan90 threatened houses, 1000 inhabitantsWadi Yasul50 threatened houses, 400 inhabitantsAl ‘Abbasiya34 threatened apartments, 242 inhabitants

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East Jerusalem,

Silwan-Al Bustan

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East Jerusalem, Sheikh Jarrah• Settler attempts to take over land for expansion/ new settlements.

• Land/property expropriated by court order, in contravention of international law.

• Plans to build over 540 residential units and public/commercial buildings for settlers.

• About 60 Palestinian residents were so far forcibly evicted (2009-2010)

• Estimated 500 at risk of displacement

Al-Kurd

Ghawi

OCHA Office

HannounKubbania Um

Haroun

Shepherd Hotel

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Settlements inEast Jerusalem

Jewish settlements established in the middle of Palestinian neighborhoods of East Jerusalem

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Displacement in 2009 & 20102009 Adults Children Total

East Jerusalem 175 125 300

*Evictions from confiscated housing units 53

Area C 152 167 319

327 292 672

2010 Adults Children Total

East Jerusalem 52 64 116

*Evictions from confiscated housing units 70

Area C 248 230 478

300 294 664

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• Blocked access of West Bank residents to vital services in East Jerusalem

• Communities and land “dislocated”• Economic and Cultural decline• Residency rights at jeopardy• Unemployment and poverty• Poor living conditions

Displacement

Humanitarian Impact of the Barrier in EJ

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The Barrier in East Jerusalem

Started in June 2002 after an escalation of suicide bombings- issue is the route

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The Barrier

WEST BANK

Constructed61.4% (434 km)

Under Construction8.4% (60 km)

Planned30.2% (213 km)

Green Line

Total Length: 707 kmWithin the West Bank 85%

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East Jerusalem Access

Qalandiya

Olives

Gilo

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Restricted Access

Al-Ram/East Jerusalem – Formal commercial area

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Access to Health

• All Jerusalem ID holders / West Bank and Gaza residents

• Permits & access for West Bank patients, staff & ambulances to East Jerusalem hospitals

• Problems of access for Jerusalem residents who live outside Barrier

• Access problems within East Jerusalem due to ambulance escorts (ICRC/PRCS/MADA agreement)

• Access to West Bank/Jerusalem hospitals for dislocated communities

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Access to Education

• Permits & access for West Bank teachers /students to Jerusalem

• Classroom shortage in Municipal system / Demolition / sealing of Al Waqf schools

• Estimated 5-10,000 pupils not enrolled / high dropout rate

• Access to West Bank/Jerusalem schools for dislocated communities

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Residency rights

• Revocation of social benefits & Jerusalem ID cards

• Family reunification

• Registration of children

• Municipal boundary vs. Barrier boundary

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‘Dislocated’ communities & isolated land

• West Bank Palestinian communities on ‘Jerusalem’ side of Barrier

• East Jerusalem communities on ‘West Bank’ side of the Barrier

• West Bank communities severed from their previously close ties to Jerusalem

• West Bank land isolated on ‘Jerusalem side’ of Barrier

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ConclusionsHumanitarian and

economic recovery impeded by:

• Barrier built in the WB, dividing East Jerusalem, separating it from the West Bank

• Restrictive planning• Restricted access and

lack of control over spaceBethlehem Barrier Crossing 2008

Documents

East Jerusalem Humanitarian Overview January 2011