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APPEALS to You. About 60 years passed since the Palestinian catastrophe (Nakba). Palestinian people have gone through a lot of suffering and calamities and the Gaza strip, which includes about 1.5 million peoples 75% from refugees, got a big share of suffering.
Since the second Intifada in 2000, Israeli Occupation has been violating all the taboo international conventions and has tortured Palestinians severely.
In the meantime, the harsh siege imposed on the Gaza Strip has been continuing for the past seven months yet with more cruelty. The siege hinders the free movement of people and goods into and out of Gaza. The humanitarian situation has severely deteriorated and the, already weak and fragile, Gaza economy is dying out. Apparently, the Gaza Strip has turned into a big "Ghetto" where all its houses carry stories of pain and suffering!
Basically, the Gaza Strip depends on importing goods through the Occupied Territories that are under the control of the Israeli occupation. Since the beginning of this siege, the occupation has prevented raw materials from entering Gaza as well as banning the exportation of Palestinian homemade goods.
Subjugating Gazans
The unemployment rates have reached a sharp level of 70% percent. Beside the dramatic drop of income which reached less than $650 per capita yearly, Gaza civilians have not been able to secure their basic human needs.
Until this moment, and despite using all methods and means, occupation fails to subjugate Gazans.
Occupation is targeting all economic aspects in the Gaza Strip. All factories, which amounts to 3,700 workshops and factories, have closed, resulting in 65,000 unemployed laborers. As the siege continues, farmers joined the harmed classes, especially in the most significant agricultural season. Thus, another 20,000 laborers became unemployed.
As for the Gaza crossings, there are five crossings and border points that link the Gaza Strip with the world; four crossings with occupied territories and the fifth with Egypt — "Rafah terminal." Deteriorated and closed, the five crossing points are fully controlled by the occupation.
Statistics report that only 37 trucks of raw materials, goods, and commodities were allowed into Gaza, while Gaza needs at least 300 trucks per day.
The Health Crisis
The health filed is in real danger as patients have double suffering. Occupation does not permit medical parts and medications to enter Gaza. Moreover, patients are not allowed to leave abroad for treatment.
Reports and statistics issued by health sections say that there are 1500 people in urgent need to undergo surgery for various diseases like kidney failure, heart disease, and cancer of all sorts. Three hundred of those sick people are in a very dangerous situation.
More than 137 medical equipment are out of order due to unavailability of spare parts; 23 out of 66 of kidney dialysis machines are not functioning. Eighty six kind of medications have vanished and other 132 sorts will not be available soon.
Since the launch of Popular Committee Against Siege, PCAS, in Nov. 2007, 29 siege victims have been counted. Those victims were from the patients banned from travel. They died in front of cameras and the whole world witnessed their death. Yet, no one has done anything or taken any action.
Those sick victims were always wondering and asking … when will we travel to be treated? This same question is being asked by hundred of other patients in Gaza.
As for infrastructure, the projects of water, sanitation, school, and health utilities have halted due to siege. Raw materials needed in operating these projects were banned from entering Gaza. 250 million dollars were earmarked to these projects, and thousand of workers would have benefited directly, not to mention the projects by the UNRWA that are suspended. 93 million dollars that would help people directly are not being spent; 16,000 people would have benefited from this aid.
In addition, the occupation has decreased petrol supplies, which have affected water and sanitation wells which have since stopped working. Educational, health, and other structures were closed, not to mention, there is no available stationary for students. Young people who study abroad were not able to travel back to continue their study in their universities, and their futures are threatened. Some families risk losing the possibility of re-entry into Gaza.
More than 25 municipality councils are about to suspend their services for Gaza residents. These councils depend fundamentally on fuel in collecting waste and trash.
And No Response ...
The mentioned images are some of what the Palestinian people are going through in the Gaza Strip. Occupation is besieging Gazans and violating international charters and human rights conventions including the four Geneva Protocols and the International Declaration of Human Rights.
Since PCAS started working to face this siege, it has contacted many figures and parties. Yet, we have not heard any position or stance that has been taken. There are no factual actions to alleviate the suffering of people. Thus, we call upon you to move on and do something, even by words, in order to help tens of thousands to avoid a crisis that seems inevitable.
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