Welsh campaigners turn spotlight on Gaza's humanitarian crisis
28 March 2008
Edrychwch ar y dudalen hon yn Gymraeg
In their new joint report, the coalition - comprising Amnesty International UK, CARE International UK, CAFOD, Christian Aid, [Mercy Corps], Médecins du Monde, Oxfam and Save The Children UK - warns that Israel's blockade of Gaza is a collective punishment of the entire Gazan civilian population of 1.5 million. The report concludes that the Israeli government's policy of blockade is unacceptable, illegal and fails to deliver security for Palestinians and Israelis alike.
Steve Brooks, Head of Oxfam Cymru said: "The situation in Gaza is now so bad that we are merely keeping people alive. Unemployment has rocketed and 80% of people in Gaza are now dependent on food aid compared to 63% in 2006. Water and sewage infrastructure is on the point of total collapse. Unless the blockade ends now, it will be impossible to pull Gaza back from the brink of this disaster and any hopes for peace in the region will be dashed."
Cathy Owens, Programme Director for Wales, Amnesty International, said: "The deepening security problems in Gaza are happening against a backdrop of abject poverty, with little access to food, clean water, electricity and medical care. Israel has the right to protect its citizens, but it also has a legal duty to provide basic human rights for the people of Gaza, and should not be punishing the entire population in this way."
Julie Morgan, MP for Cardiff North said: "When I visited Gaza last September, I was with the first group of MPs to visit the territory since the takeover by Hamas. There was a shortage of medical supplies and of raw materials and the price of basic foods such as flour, rice and powdered milk was on the rise. The situation was dire then and it's even worse now. It is the ordinary people in Gaza who are suffering from being cut off from the rest of the world and from the violence in the region and there must be a resolution to this crisis as soon as possible."
According to the report the blockade of Gaza has dramatically accelerated a long-term pattern of deterioration across key sectors like poverty, unemployment, education and health. Over 1.1 million people are now dependent on food aid in Gaza compared to 16,164 in 1999 and, of 110,000 workers previously employed in the private sector, 75,000 workers have now lost their jobs.
The coalition's report, "The Gaza Strip: A humanitarian implosion", urges the UK government and EU to press for a new strategy for Gaza. In particular, the report calls on the UK government to:
- Exert greater pressure on the Israeli government to open the crossings into Gaza and stop fuel and electricity cuts in order to stem the worsening humanitarian crisis.
- Help facilitate a process of Palestinian reconciliation that can lead to a credible and effective peace process with Israel.
- Abandon the failed policy of non-engagement and begin negotiations with all Palestinian parties, including Hamas.
The report also calls on the Special Representative of the Quartet to address restrictions on movement as one of the root causes of economic stagnation.
