Facts and figures -impact of the current Israeli raids -health

Facts and figures about the impact of the current Israeli raids
against Gaza on Health



We in Gaza face great pressure on the basic services and humanitarian
situation. For those who need to be reminded, since the start of this
Intifada (Sept. 2000) Gaza’s economy has been severely affected by
the continuous Israeli atrocities: road blocks, borders closures,
destruction of agricultural areas, and home demolitions. The current
rate of unemployment is as high as 60% of the population. The vast
majority of Palestinian families are living on humanitarian aid and
an increasing number of families live under the poverty line, with
many living on just two dollar/family daily. Gaza is very small
place, smaller than a swing for a cat. It is just it is 360sq km with
1.5 million residents so we have a very high population density.



Since Israel withdraw from Gaza in september 2005, with the so-
called one sided disengagement plan, the only changes were no
checkpoints inside Gaza and the Rafah border crossing, which we use
for traveling to Egypt, was opened.

In January 2006, we had an election.the people majority elected a Hamas government
, since that date nearly 4 months ago, economical and political
sanctions were imposed on the Palestinian people as punishment for
their democratic choice. the choice was an outcome of the occupation
practices with the American government’s support ,and corruption of the
Palestinian government after the Oslo accord.

The four months of economic sanctions has increased the health problems and
we in the health field face a collapsing health system. We do not
have medications in our stores and had to prioritize the surgical
operations due to lack of medical supplies. The last thing we needed
is the power cut off and the complete sealing of the Gaza Strip
with the economical sanctions,poverty level increased
you all know, poverty has a direct effect on health, and when people
are hungry, they save their cash for food, which will consequently
affects their expenditures towards health.,this puts extra presure on the health system,already weak and ineed for larger resources to b erevived,

Here are some facts and figures about the effect of the power cut
off, the economic sanctions, and the Israeli operation in Gaza on
health:

1. 112,000 patients with chronic diseases who need routine
medications are not sure to get these medications at all and if they
do receive the correct medications, it might be expired due to lack
of regular electricity where it is stored in the refrigerators of the
medical facilities. Cancer patients, diabetic patients, and people
with heart disease are few examples of the many cases.

2. 22 hospitals are currently depending on alternative electric power
generators. Bear in mind that those generators need diesel fuel and
the hospitals donot , have enough diesel ,we depend on Israel
. We live under israeli occupation and
therefore must get all our basic needs via Israel.including fuel



3. 200 daily surgical operations will be postponed.

4. 250 renal dialysis patients’ lives are threatened because the
supply of dialysis solution is running low.

5. 30,000 children suffer from malnutrition. This number will
increase as diarrhea spreads. There is a limited supply of good clean
water and high rates of food contamination; diarrhea is expected to
rise by 15% as an outcome of lack of clean water and good hygiene
.
6. Premature babies on life support machines are awaiting death
sentences and the number of deaths for preterm deliveries will
increase as well.



7. Children are lacking proper sleep and proper recreation. They are
feeling insecure all the time and have to live with the non-stop
sonic booming and artillery shelling. A number of those children will
continue to suffer from different psychological problems or drawbacks.



(Source: Palestinian Statistics Bureau)




tonight ,the israeli army intend to make big incursion into beit hanoun village , north of Gaza,

the soldier has to be freed , so the palestinian political prisoners ,