GENEVA / OCHA OPT INCIDENTS

An urgent needs assessment is under way for dozens of Palestinian herding communities across the Occupied Palestinian Territory after an increase in Israeli settler violence, the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, said today. UNTV CH

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:02:05
• Production Date: 4 August 2023
• Asset Language: English
• Corporate Name: OFFICE FOR THE COORDINATION OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS - OCHA
• Subject Topical: PALESTINE; PEACE AND SECURITY
• Geographic Subject: ISRAEL; PALESTINE; WEST BANK
• MAMS Id: 3078098
• Parent Id: 3078098
• Alternate Title: unifeed230804d

Description

STORY: GENEVA / OCHA OPT INCIDENTS
TRT: 02:05
SOURCE: UNTV CH
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 04 AUGUST 2023 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

Shotlist

1. Wide shot, Palais des Nations flag alley, nations’ flags flying
2. Wide shot, podium with speaker, press briefing room
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA):
“In the first six months of 2023, the UN has recorded 591 settler-related incidents resulting in Palestinian casualties, property damage, both. That’s a monthly average of 99 incidents this year.”
4. Med shot, speakers at the podium filmed from the side
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA):
“Palestinian herding communities are particularly vulnerable to these and other settlement activities. This year and last, OCHA has documented the displacement of at least 399 people from settler violence from seven Palestinian herding communities across the OPT. Three of these communities are called Al Baqa’a, Khirbet Bir al'Idd and Wedadiye are now completely empty.”
6. Med shot, camera woman
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA):
“The reason for the herders leaving what they cite most often is settler activities, including violence and settlement expansion which results in the loss of their access to grazing lands. Other reasons include the threat of demolition of their homes and other properties by the Israeli authorities.”
8. Med shot, webcast operator
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA):
“Many communities across the West Bank, for example, are at risk of forcible transfer due to a coercive environment that includes the demolitions, settler activities and other practices. For the record: Israeli settlements are illegal under international law. They deepen humanitarian needs due to their impact on people’s livelihoods, food security and access to essential services.”
10. Close up, typing in laptop
11. Wide shot, camerawoman filming with screens on the left side of the press room
12. Close up, journalist listening
13. Wide shot, press briefing room with speaker at the podium and journalists

Storyline

An urgent needs assessment is under way for dozens of Palestinian herding communities across the Occupied Palestinian Territory after an increase in Israeli settler violence, the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, said on Friday (04 Aug).

“In the first six months of 2023, the UN has recorded 591 settler-related incidents resulting in Palestinian casualties, property damage, both. That’s a monthly average of 99 incidents this year,” said Jens Laerke, OCHA spokesperson.

Speaking at a scheduled briefing in Geneva, Laerke noted that this represented a 39 percent increase on 2022, when the monthly average was 71 incidents. Last year’s tally was already the highest since OCHA started recording incidents in 2006. A total of 60 herding communities are now under assessment.

“Palestinian herding communities are particularly vulnerable to these and other settlement activities,” said Laerke. “This year and last, OCHA has documented the displacement of at least 399 people from settler violence from seven Palestinian herding communities across the OPT. Three of these communities are called Al Baqa’a, Khirbet Bir al'Idd and Wedadiye (and) are now completely empty.”

Laerke added that the reason for the herders leaving was “most often settler activities, including violence and settlement expansion which results in the loss of their access to grazing lands. Other reasons include the threat of demolition of their homes and other properties by the Israeli authorities.”

OCHA data indicates that 224 children and 175 adults are among the 399 people impacted by displacement linked to settler violence-related from seven Palestinian herding communities across the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

“Many communities across the West Bank, for example, are at risk of forcible transfer due to a coercive environment that includes the demolitions, settler activities and other practices,” Laerke said. “For the record: Israeli settlements are illegal under international law. They deepen humanitarian needs due to their impact on people’s livelihoods, food security and access to essential services.”

Set to be finalized in September, the needs assessments will inform the UN and its partners on the type of assistance that will best support herders and their families.