east jerusalem

UNITED NATIONS

Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

occupied Palestinian territory

HUMANITARIAN OVERVIEW February 2010

East JerusalemEast Jerusalem

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Key Humanitarian Concerns in EJ

Barrier related: • Access to services• Communities & land “dislocated” by

Barrier In addition:• Evictions, Demolitions• Residency rights• Poor living conditions

Displacement

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Construction of Barrier in the West Bank and East Jerusalem

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

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The Barrier 2002-

2009

WEST BANK

Constructed58% (413 km)

Under Construction10% (73 km)

Planned32% (223 km)

Green Line

Total Length: 709 kmWithin the West Bank 85%

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19872005

Jerusalem – Access & Closure BARRIER

ConstructedUnder constructionPlanned

ROADS Israeli use primarily

E1 project

Planned with land seized

Planned

PLANNED ROADS

Checkpoints Palestinian permits holders

Palestinian traffic only:

Palestinian built-up areaSettlement

Underpasses

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Impact of the Barrier: ‘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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Restricted Access

Al-Ram/East Jerusalem – Formerly bustling commercial area

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Access to Health

• All JLM ID holders / WBGS residents

• Permits & access for WB patients, staff & ambulances to EJ hospitals

• Problems of access for JLM residents who live outside Barrier

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

• Access to WB/JLM hospitals for dislocated communities

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Access to Education

• Permits & access for WB 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 WB/JLM schools for dislocated communities

Access to Education

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The Planning Crisis in East Jerusalem

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Zoning of East Jerusalem

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Shrinking Space for Palestinians in E. Jerusalem

• Restrictive zoning• Restrictive planning• Restrictive permit regime

-125 in 2008

• Shortfall of 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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Areas at Risk of Large-scale Demolition

• Wadi ad Dem, Beit Hanina• Tel al Foul, Beit Hanina• Khalet el ‘Ein, At Tur• Al Abbasiya, Ath Thuri• Wadi Yasul, Jabal al Mukabbir • Bustan, Silwan

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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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House Demolitions in East Jerusalem

• 755 demolitions between 2003 and 2009

• < 100 demolitions a year (av.)

• < 1,500 pending demolition orders

• < 60,000 people vulnerable; living under risk of house demolition

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East Jerusalem,

Sheikh Jarrah

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Evictions from Sheikh Jarrah• Over 50 Palestinian

residents already forcibly evicted: estimated 500 at risk of displacement

• Organized settler attempts to take over Palestinian land in contravention of international law

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

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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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Displacement

• Restrictive zoning & planning & administrative obstacles ‘illegal’ construction/demolitions

• Systematic settler ‘legal’, physical & other pressure forced evictions

• Other “push” factors, including lack of access to services…etc.

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Displacement in 2009

Adults Children Total

East Jerusalem 151 149 300

*Eviction from Sheikh Jarrah 53

Area C 152 167 319

Total: 303 316 673

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Impact of Displacement on Families

• 67% below poverty line • High fees for legal aid and fines• Fines collected > 25 million NIS per year• Loss of biggest investment: their home• Forced to rent housing • Children impacted most

– Psychological distress, gaps in education• 71% move more than twice after

demolition

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Conclusions• Proper planning to

address Palestinian housing crisis.

• Freeze all demolitions. • Support for local

planning initiatives and legal aid

• Barrier on 1967 Green lineBethlehem Barrier Crossing 2008

east jerusalem

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