Israeli Checkpoints Increase in West Bank: UN-OCHA

Mohammed Mar’i, Arab News

RAMALLAH, West Bank, 7 April 2007 — The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) yesterday reported that from March 28 to April 3, a total of 210 flying checkpoints were recorded in the occupied West Bank, mainly in the Jenin, Qalqilya, Bethlehem and Hebron governorates. This was up from 171 recorded flying checkpoints the week before.

In addition, OCHA noted that two Palestinians, including one child, were killed by the Israeli Army and a further 32 were injured in the West Bank during that week. The high number of Palestinian casualties was mainly due to Israeli military incursions and clashes during Palestinian demonstrations to mark “Land Day” on March 30.

OCHA also said in its statement that 333 Palestinian families (2,168 people) were displaced in the northern Gaza Strip following the sewage flooding in Umm Nasser village. OCHA said that these displaced Palestinians are currently being sheltered in a temporary UNRWA camp in north eastern Gaza. In total three homes were destroyed and a further 116 were damaged by the flood, OCHA reports.

OCHA adds that there were continued fears of further large scale flooding and outbreaks of communicable diseases. The organization also reported that the Israeli military authorities have imposed a weeklong general closure on the West Bank during the Jewish holiday of Passover. However, on the other hand, more than 8,000 Christians were issued with special permits to access Jerusalem for the Easter festivities, OCHA noted.