Gaza crisis hitting civilians badly, say church aid partners
-08/07/06
Following a wee
Gaza crisis hitting civilians badly, say church aid partners
-08/07/06
Following a week of violence and uncertainty after the Israeli incursion into the area, church and development organisations have spoken out about the crisis in the Gaza Strip.
In the latest developments, Israel says that its troops have left northern Gaza after days of clashes, but new fighting has erupted east of Gaza City.
The kidnapping of an Israeli soldier and the killing of two others by Palestinian militants provoked the Israeli army to carry out air-strikes, destroying the Stripís main power station.
This is having a knock-on effect on generator-powered water wells and the operation of medical equipment in hospitals, say local NGOs.
As they enter a ninth day without power and water, and psychologically exhausted by the constant explosions of sonic booms from Israeli fighter-jets overhead, the UK-based international development agency Christian Aid says its partners are struggling to cope with the situation on the ground.
ìThe situation is awful,î declared Majeda Saqqa of the Culture and Free Thought Association, which runs childrenís centres in the southern Gaza Strip.
She continued: ìFuel is running out so it is hard to maintain the generators that lift water up from the wells so we have very little water.î
ìPetrol prices have doubled,î explained Ms Saqqa. ìIt is very hot and humid and we have a huge problem with mosquitoes. The municipal garbage collection cannot operate due to lack of fuel so garbage in the streets is becoming a breeding ground for mosquitoes.î
The aid worker added: ìWe need to keep doors and windows open otherwise they will break due to the sonic booms so there are mosquitoes everywhere. On Sunday 2 June 2006 two small houses collapsed as a result of the sonic booms ñ luckily no one was hurt.î
The United Nations reports that Gazaís hospitals are running low on emergency items and the ability of medical services to respond to possible increased casualties is being compromised.
ìThe elderly [who live in large apartment blocks] canít get to hospital for dialysis treatment as the lack of power means the lifts arenít working,î said Saqqa. ìIt is really terrifying when the sonic booms hit. They create a state of panic and children rush to hide under tables. Everybody is tired all the time as the sonic booms go on through the night. Nobody gets any sleep. Our staff canít hide their fear.î
Ahmed Sourani of the Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committee, a partner of Christian Aid and other agencies, said: ìThere is a real sense of depression and pessimism in Gaza ñ people are expecting things to get worse and that there will be an escalation of the situationî.
He declared: ìOur children are traumatised ñ they want to sleep in the same bed as us at night. We are as scared as our children are but we cannot admit it for their sake.î
The foreign ministry in Switzerland, depositary state for the Geneva Conventions which set out rules regarding armed conflict, said there was ëno doubtí Israel has not taken the necessary precautions required of it under international law to protect the Palestinian civilian population in Gaza and its infrastructure.
Meanwhile, Christian Aid is urging supporters to back a UK parliamentary Early Day Motion, tabled by two MPs, which condemns attacks against Gaza civilians.
[Also on Ekklesia: Mennonites concerned and active over Gaza 03/07/06; Gaza invasion and violence is no solution, says Christian Aid 30/06/06; Israeli troops launch military push into Gaza 28/06/06; Gaza militants invoke God to defy pullout; British peace activist arrested in Gaza; Freedom for Kate Burton comes with fresh threats; Christian warnings substantiated as Israel targets Hamas; Catholics seek to stave off Palestinian hunger; Christians on the West Bank face more fire bomb attacks; Israel releases Palestinian prisoners; Christians warn of Palestinian vote block; Bishop suggests occupied Palestinian territory could become part of new state; Palestinians urge non-violence against Israel; Christian hunger strikers welcome ruling on Israel’s Separation Wall; Palestinians want a just peace, say churches; Christians meet to step up peacemaking in Israel and Palestine]
Gaza crisis hitting civilians badly, say church aid partners
-08/07/06
Following a week of violence and uncertainty after the Israeli incursion into the area, church and development organisations have spoken out about the crisis in the Gaza Strip.
In the latest developments, Israel says that its troops have left northern Gaza after days of clashes, but new fighting has erupted east of Gaza City.
The kidnapping of an Israeli soldier and the killing of two others by Palestinian militants provoked the Israeli army to carry out air-strikes, destroying the Stripís main power station.
This is having a knock-on effect on generator-powered water wells and the operation of medical equipment in hospitals, say local NGOs.
As they enter a ninth day without power and water, and psychologically exhausted by the constant explosions of sonic booms from Israeli fighter-jets overhead, the UK-based international development agency Christian Aid says its partners are struggling to cope with the situation on the ground.
ìThe situation is awful,î declared Majeda Saqqa of the Culture and Free Thought Association, which runs childrenís centres in the southern Gaza Strip.
She continued: ìFuel is running out so it is hard to maintain the generators that lift water up from the wells so we have very little water.î
ìPetrol prices have doubled,î explained Ms Saqqa. ìIt is very hot and humid and we have a huge problem with mosquitoes. The municipal garbage collection cannot operate due to lack of fuel so garbage in the streets is becoming a breeding ground for mosquitoes.î
The aid worker added: ìWe need to keep doors and windows open otherwise they will break due to the sonic booms so there are mosquitoes everywhere. On Sunday 2 June 2006 two small houses collapsed as a result of the sonic booms ñ luckily no one was hurt.î
The United Nations reports that Gazaís hospitals are running low on emergency items and the ability of medical services to respond to possible increased casualties is being compromised.
ìThe elderly [who live in large apartment blocks] canít get to hospital for dialysis treatment as the lack of power means the lifts arenít working,î said Saqqa. ìIt is really terrifying when the sonic booms hit. They create a state of panic and children rush to hide under tables. Everybody is tired all the time as the sonic booms go on through the night. Nobody gets any sleep. Our staff canít hide their fear.î
Ahmed Sourani of the Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committee, a partner of Christian Aid and other agencies, said: ìThere is a real sense of depression and pessimism in Gaza ñ people are expecting things to get worse and that there will be an escalation of the situationî.
He declared: ìOur children are traumatised ñ they want to sleep in the same bed as us at night. We are as scared as our children are but we cannot admit it for their sake.î
The foreign ministry in Switzerland, depositary state for the Geneva Conventions which set out rules regarding armed conflict, said there was ëno doubtí Israel has not taken the necessary precautions required of it under international law to protect the Palestinian civilian population in Gaza and its infrastructure.
Meanwhile, Christian Aid is urging supporters to back a UK parliamentary Early Day Motion, tabled by two MPs, which condemns attacks against Gaza civilians.
[Also on Ekklesia: Mennonites concerned and active over Gaza 03/07/06; Gaza invasion and violence is no solution, says Christian Aid 30/06/06; Israeli troops launch military push into Gaza 28/06/06; Gaza militants invoke God to defy pullout; British peace activist arrested in Gaza; Freedom for Kate Burton comes with fresh threats; Christian warnings substantiated as Israel targets Hamas; Catholics seek to stave off Palestinian hunger; Christians on the West Bank face more fire bomb attacks; Israel releases Palestinian prisoners; Christians warn of Palestinian vote block; Bishop suggests occupied Palestinian territory could become part of new state; Palestinians urge non-violence against Israel; Christian hunger strikers welcome ruling on Israel’s Separation Wall; Palestinians want a just peace, say churches; Christians meet to step up peacemaking in Israel and Palestine]