International Committee of the Red Cross condemns Gaza blockade: Difference between revisions

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{{date|June 14, 2010}}
{{date|June 14, 2010}}
[[File:Orphanschoolmosque.jpg|thumb|190px|left|The remains of a mosque and an orphanage after being shelled by Israeli forces]]
The traditionally neutral [[w:Red Cross|Red Cross]] issued a statement today calling for an end to Israel's [[w:blockade of the Gaza Strip|blockade]] of the Gaza Strip which it called a violation of international humanitarian law.
The traditionally neutral [[w:Red Cross|Red Cross]] issued a statement today calling for an end to Israel's [[w:blockade of the Gaza Strip|blockade]] of the Gaza Strip which it called a violation of international humanitarian law.



Revision as of 19:31, 14 June 2010


Monday, June 14, 2010

The remains of a mosque and an orphanage after being shelled by Israeli forces

The traditionally neutral Red Cross issued a statement today calling for an end to Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip which it called a violation of international humanitarian law.

The statement gives an overview of what the Red Cross sees as a humanitarian crisis in Gaza today. The Red Cross describes how the blockade has seriously impoverished the people of Gaza, as well as denied them basic access to housing, food and health care. The Red Cross claims the blockade has almost totally destroyed Gaza's economy which is kept on life support by an elaborate tunnel system used to smuggle in goods. Even though Israel claims it no longer occupies the Gaza Strip, the Red Cross claims that it still denies access of Gazans to their fishing grounds causing great economic hardships.

The Red Cross also outlines the condition of the health care system in Gaza. The Red Cross claims that electricity blackouts are on average seven hours a day, meaning that hospitals must run on generators. Generators can take two to three minutes to start, a luxury many patients cannot afford. To make matters worse fuel reserves for the generators are running out, and the Red Cross reports that already three times in 2010 Gaza's hospitals have run out of fuel.

Also at risk is Gaza's water supply. According to the Red Cross only, "60% of Gaza's 1.4 million inhabitants are connected to a sewage collection system." Raw Sewage is dumped into the Wadi Gaza river. Many families live along side the river, and the sewage poses a great health risk. In addition, because of overused aquifers Gaza's drinking water has "high levels of nitrate, chloride and salt." This has made the drinking water unfit for consumption.

The Red Cross also urges that the rights of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who is held prisoner by Hamas, be respected. However, the Red Cross recognized that, "Over 800 Gazan detainees in Israeli prisons have been prevented from meeting face-to-face with their loved ones since June 2007."

Sources