New UN report urges Israel to tackle Palestinian housing crisis

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) issued a warning about he housing crisis in East Jerusalem.

Palestinians are experiencing a serious housing shortage due to current building policies and house demolitions. Apparently, Israel has failed to provide Palestinian residents with adequate planning and together with the expropriation of about one third of annexed East Jerusalem lands for the construction of settlements, OCHA says these actions have created a crisis. The warning comes in OCHA's latest report regarding the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory. The report says a majority of the residents built their homes after being denied permits. Also only 13 percent of annexed East Jerusalem is zoned for Palestinian construction. The municipality of Jerusalem disputed the numbers but acknowledged that there is a planning crisis all over the city. It "is not just in eastern Jerusalem but throughout all of Jerusalem that affects Jews, Christians and Muslims alike," the statement said. "This is a report about the past, while Mayor Nir Barkat is committed to the future and providing a better quality of life for all residents of Jerusalem." Jerusalem officials said plans are under way to implement change and have issued a statement.. "Upon entering office, Mayor Barkat expedited the planning process and for the first time in 50 years, will present a master plan for the city in the coming weeks for public review," the statement said. The U.N. urged Israeli authorities to halt demolitions and ensure effective urban planning as part of its obligations as the occupying power. In addition, it has called on Israel to support organizations that work to improve the lives of displaced families.