JERUSALEM, February 28, 2006 (WAFA) - Since the Palestinian elections in particular, there has been a sharp deterioration in humanitarian situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) due to Israel's tightening of security procedures, according to report by the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

The report said that that Palestinian casualties have increased throughout the OPT in the month after the elections compared to the month before (at least 34 deaths compared with 15) while Israeli casualties remained the same (1 death prior and 1 death after).

"The non-payment of salaries to [the PA's] 73,000 security staff could risk a rise in criminality, kidnapping and protection racket," the report said. "Dependence on PA salaries is greatest in some of the poorest governorates, including Jenin, Tul Karm, Qalqilya, Tubas, Salfit, and the Gaza Strip".

The humanitarian impact of cutting donor funds and VAT payments to the PNA will result in a deficit that will immediately reduce the PNA's capacity to provide services, pay salaries and ensure security, according to the report.

It also said that there has been an acceleration of Israel's plan to separate Palestinian and Israeli road systems within the West Bank. "Palestinian traffic is being diverted from the Israeli restricted West Bank roads through a combination of physical obstacles, movement permits and road barriers," the report reads "series of tunnels and bridges separate Palestinians onto alternative roads to traverse Israeli controlled Area C and Israeli restricted roads".

It revealed that school routines could breakdown, including reduced hours. Classroom size would increase, teacher morale would decline, education quality would deteriorate and pupil drop-out could increase.

A.D. (23:54 P) (21:54 GMT)