Reference :
V-F-CR-F-01844-N
Date :
22/06/2017
Title :
Gaza : where nights are pitch-black
Duration :
00:04:40
Editor :
unknown
Person appearing :
KAMAL, Rima (communication coordinator, ICRC)
Confidentiality level :
public
Publication restrictions :
publication without restrictions
Production company :
ICRC
ICRC producer :
KAMAL, Rima
Production reference :
AV660R
Description :
Chronic power shortages have plagued the Gaza Strip for years and fostered a dependency on power provisions from Egypt and Israel, both of which are insufficient and intermittent.
Gaza’s very own power plant (GPP) which was hit during the 2014 conflict and later repaired, remains unable to meet the needs of the two million people living in the Gaza Strip. To produce power, the plant is heavily reliant on fuel, which must be imported into Gaza. Insufficient fuel imports and scarcity of funds have forced Gaza’s Electricity Distribution Company (GEDCO) to ration its power provision. For the past ten years, power provision schemes have been in place across the Gaza Strip with electricity being available for eight hours a day at best. Fuel, which is used to run generators, outside of the hours power is provided within, can be used by those who can afford it- a minority of Gaza’s population and service providers.
The energy crisis is impacting essential services including the provision of health care services. It is interrupting surgical operations and reducing the operating hours of water and waste water treatment plants or stopping them all together. Untreated sewage is also being discharged into the sea, traveling far beyond Gaza’s borders.
The energy crisis has dealt another blow to the quality of life of people in Gaza. Their daily lives are heavily impacted by the electricity shortages. Nights are pitch-back now in most neighborhoods in Gaza and people have taken to the planning of their daily chores around the energy crisis.
With the latest reduction of quantity of power provided by Israel to Gaza (which entered into force on Tuesday the 20th of June 2017), people in Gaza are now left with 2-3 hours of electricity a day.
Yesterday (Wednesday 21st of June 2017), one million liter of fuel crossed into the southern border of Gaza. Although it is warmly welcome, it is not going to last long. It will not solve the energy crisis here nor make a big difference in the quality of life of the people in Gaza. It is yet another ad hoc solution that will alleviate the crisis for a few days at best.
Living with chronic power shortages has become the new normal for people in Gaza. A durable long term solution is desperately needed. The battered infrastructure and the poor economy is already exerting a heavy toll on people here as is. The energy crisis is yet another blow.
Nights will continue to be pitch-black in Gaza for now.
English title :
Gaza : where nights are pitch-black
Colour/B&W :
colour
SD/HD :
HD
Resolution :
1920 x 1080
Aspect ratio :
16/9
Original material/format :
H264
Best material/format available :
ProRes 422
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