Ref: 10/2010

On Wednesday, 3 February 2010, the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights’
(PCHR) Economic and Social Rights Unit held a seminar on “The Electrical Power
Crisis in the Gaza Strip” in the Commodore Hotel in Gaza City. Fadel
al-Muzeini, a researcher at PCHR’s Economic and Social Rights Unit, facilitated
the seminar which was organized in response to the renewed electrical power
crisis in the Gaza Strip in the past two weeks. In the seminar, PCHR addressed
all the relevant issues of concern to civilians in Gaza. Numerous specialists,
representatives of civil society organizations, and citizens attended the
seminar.

Mr. Raji al-Sourani, PCHR Director, opened the seminar by welcoming
presenters and participants. Al-Sourani pointed out that PCHR sought to provoke
a discussion on electrical power outages, especially as the ongoing crisis is a
part of economic and social issues of PCHR’s concern. Al-Sourani added that
PCHR has been investigating the electrical power crisis for more than two
months and that the Centre has published a press release on the crisis. He
pointed out that this seminar is the result of PCHR’s efforts.

Dr. Rafiq Maliha, Project Manager of Gaza Power Production Plant, gave a
presentation entitled “Gaza Power Production Plant, Reality and Capacities.” He
reviewed the history of the plant from its establishment until the bombardment
by Israeli forces in June 2006. Maliha explained that the bombardment of the plant,
as well as restrictions imposed on the delivery of industrial fuel and the ban
imposed on the delivery of necessary equipment and spare parts have
significantly contributed to the disruption of the work of the plant. He stressed
the necessity to establish a mechanism that ensures the regular flow of
industrial fuel to the power plant.

Kanaan ‘Ubeid, Deputy Director of the Palestinian Power Authority in
Gaza, gave a presentation with the title “Power Authority between Obligations
and Reality.” He spoke about the ongoing crisis and its causes. ‘Ubeid
criticized the reduction of the budget allocated for industrial fuel by the
Palestinian government in Ramallah. He said that this reduction aggravated the
existing crisis which is caused by measures and restrictions imposed by Israel.
He called upon the different groups of Palestinians, regardless of affiliation,
to promptly and urgently move in order to overcome the crisis.

Jamal al-Dardasawi, Director of Public Relations and Information in Gaza
Electricity Distribution Company (GEDCO), gave a presentation on “GEDCO’s
Responsibilities in Providing Electrical Power Services to Gaza Residents.” He explained
that GEDCO is responsible for receiving and distributing electrical power, stressing
that GEDCO has been suffering for six years from of the deficit of the
electrical power provided to it. Al-Dardasawi accused Israel of destroying the
electrical power network in Gaza and warned of the collapse of the network in
view of the continued blockade and limited possibilities to maintain or develop
the network.

At the end of the seminar, discussions were opened and many questions
posed by the participants were answered. The seminar concluded by submitting a
number of recommendations including:

· Find immediate and urgent solutions to ensure the regular
flow of industrial fuel required to operate Gaza Power Production Plant and to
put an end to the ongoing crisis.

· Open comprehensive investigation into the current electrical
power crisis and find strategic solutions for this chronic crisis, regardless
of the availability of external funds.

· Participants called upon the Power Authority to be committed
to its obligations, especially those relative to the provision of the
industrial fuel required for Gaza Power Production Plant.

· Participants urged concerned parties to find new mechanisms
to use international aid provided to the Gaza Strip to support civilians,
especially families who are unable to pay their electrical power bills.

· Participants called upon the different parties not to
politicize the issues of public services, noting that civilians are suffering
from the impact of such politicization.