Easing the Blockade: Assessing the Humanitarian Impact on the Population of the Gaza Strip | March 2011

In June 2010, Israel announced a package of measures to ease the access restrictions it had imposed on the Gaza Strip since June 2007. Due to the pivotal nature of the restrictions that remain in place, the easing of the blockade has not resulted in a significant improvement in people’s livelihoods. Because of the ongoing restrictions on the import of building materials, only a small minority of the needed housing units could be constructed. High unemployment levels and strong demand for construction materials have left thousands of people with no alternative but to risk their lives working in tunnels or in access-restricted areas near the perimeter fence surrounding Gaza.