CPTnet
1 August 2008
AT-TUWANI: Drought in South Hebron Hills worsened by Israeli occupation

At-Tuwani and neighboring villages are in the worst drought-affected area of the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT). Only 13% of the expected rainfall came in the Hebron area in the winter of 2007-08. Two weeks ago, At-Tuwani villagers told Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) that only around one week's supply of water was left in the village's wells and cisterns.

Israeli military road blocks restrict access to the nearest Palestinian Water Authority (PWA) filling point, but even without these restrictions, the capacity of the PWA is insufficient to meet local needs. The Oslo II Peace Agreement of 1995 called for "the equitable utilization of joint water resources,": which the Israeli government never carried out. Israeli human rights group, B'Tselem reports that the daily per capita consumption of water of Palestinians in the West Bank is 66 liters, whereas the average daily water consumption in Israeli cities is 235 liters.

Some families in At-Tuwani have purchased water, but the Israeli military roadblocks mean that water tankers have to take longer routes, thus raising the price. NGOs who recently brought water to the area told CPT that it cost 35-40 NIS per m3 (1m3 = 1000 liters), three to six times higher than Israeli households pay. In addition, the villagers must provide water for their flocks , and a sheep requires a minimum of 5-7 liters of water per day.

The low winter rainfall adversely affected the growth of the natural vegetation, and the planted crops, like barley and wheat, produced a very low harvest. The Palestinians, therefore, have had to buy additional fodder for their animals. In the past 12 months fodder prices have tripled, while the market price for a sheep has nearly halved. The Occupation has also interfered with shepherds' ability to graze their animals. Since it began in 1967, 21 percent of West Bank grazing land has been declared Israeli military zones and another 8 percent nature reserves. Israeli settlers often attack shepherds and their flocks in the fields, which makes feeding their flocks even more difficult for families.

Palestinians, with support from a Spanish NGO, are building a new cistern in At-Tuwani to supply water to villages in the area in future years. The Israeli military issued a 'stop work order' (the first step in the demolition process) for it on 26 June, 2008. Representatives from the village met with the Israeli military authorities last week requesting that this order be rescinded. They have told CPT that they will appeal to the Israeli High Court if necessary.

CPT continues to accompany Palestinian herders as they graze on their traditional lands and resist Israeli army and settler harassment. Local and international NGOs are working to meet the humanitarian needs in the area by supplying water and fodder.

Figures in this release are taken from

<http://www.ochaopt.org/documents/Hebron%20Drought.pdf>

<http://www.btselem.org/english/water/2008070_acute_water_shortage_in_the_west_bank.asp>

<http://www.ochaopt.org/documents/TheHumanitarianImpactOfIsraeliInfrastructureTheWestBank_full.pdf>