Gaza appeals to You!
About 60 years passed since our Palestinian catastrophe (Nakhba). Palestinian people have passed and tasted several sufferings and calamites, thus the Gaza strip which includes about 1.5 million peoples 75% from refuges, got a big share from these sufferings.
By the start of the 2 nd Intifada in 2000, Israeli occupation violated all the taboos international conventions and tortured Palestinians severely.
In the mean time, the harsh siege imposed on Gaza Strip continues for the seven months but with more cruelty. The siege hinder the freedom movement for people and goods into and out the Gaza Strip. Therefore, humanitarian situation severely deteriorated and the fragile Gaza economy die out. That economy was weak due to occupation procedures. Accordingly, the Gaza Strip turned to a big "Ghetto" All Gaza houses carry stories of pain and suffering!
Basically, Gaza Strip depends on importing goods through the occupied territories that under Israeli occupation control. Since the start of this siege, occupation prevented raw materials into the Gaza strip as well as banding exporting Palestinian home made goods! Additionally, unemployment rates reached sharp level of 70% percent. Therefore, Gaza civilians became not able to secure their basic human needs beside the sharp decrees of income which reached less than $650 yearly per capita.
Until this moment, Occupation failed in subjugating Gazans. Thus occupation is seeking all methods and means to reach this subjugation.
Occupation is targeting all economy aspects in the Gaza strip. All factories which amounted of 3700 workshop and factory closed resulted in making 65000 labors unemployed. As siege continues, farmers joined the harmed classes especially in the most significant agricultural season. Thus, another 20,000 labors became unemployed.
As for the Gaza crossings, there are 5 crossing and borders pints that link the Gaza Strip with the world. Four crossing with occupied territories and the 5 th with Egypt "Rafah terminal" The occupation takes full control of the 5 crossing points thus it is completely deteriorated and closed. Occupation dosen't allow people to move outside Gaza and also into. Morover, it allows some food lists to get into Gaza Strip while roe materials and other sorts of foods are banned to be in.
Statistics report that 37 trucks of these goods to be in while Gaza Strip needs at least 300 vans per day that include roe materials, goods and commodities.
In the health filed, it is in real danger as sick people have double trouble life of suffering. Occupation doesn't permit medical parts and medications to be in. Besides, this occupation prevents sick people to leave abroad for treatment.
Reports and statistics issued by health sections say that there 1500 peoples are in bad need to get surgeries for various diseases like kidney failure, heart disease and cancer with all its sorts. Three hundred of those sick people are in very dangerous situation.
More than 137 medical machines are out of order due to unavailability of spare parts, 23 of these machines are for kidney diylesia out of 66 machines. Eighty six sort of medications are vanished and other 132 sorts will be not available soon!
Since the launch of Popular Committee Against siege, PCAS, in November 2007, it counted 29 victims resulted from siege. Those victims were from the sick people banding from travel. They died in front of cameras and the whole world witnessed the way they died. Yet, no one made something or took an action. Those sick victims were always wondering and asking…when we will travel to be treated? This question is being asked by hundred of other sick people!
As for infrastructure domain, projects of water, sanitation, schools and health utilities stopped due to closure. Roe materials needed in operating these projects were banned to be in Gaza Strip. 250 million dollars were devoted to these projects and thousand of labors would have benefited directly and the UNRWA has had some projects. 93 million dollars that help people directly as 16000 make use of them. Beside this, occupation decreased petrol supplies that affected water and sanitation wells which stopped working. Educational, health and other bodies were closed besides there is no available stationary for students.
More than 25 municipality councils are about to suspend providing services for Gaza residents. These cancels depends fundamentally on fuel in collecting garbage and trash.
in addition, students who study abroad were not able to travel back to continue their study in their universities and their futures were threatened some families were threatened to lose reentries.
The previously mentioned images are some of Palestinian sufferings in Gaza Strip. Occupation is besieging Gazns and violating international charts and human rights conventions including the 4 Geneva protocols and the international declaration of human rights.
Since PCAS started working to face this siege, it has contacted many figures and parts. Yet, we have not heard any position or stance. There are no factual actions to alleviate suffering of people. Thus, we call upon you and we ask all alive conscious to move on and make something even by words in order to help tens of thousands from inevitable crisis.
Ramy Abdu
Popular Committee Against siege