Gaza: UN agencies voice alarm at worsening humanitarian crisis, urgent

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call for action. (UN website)

Gaza: UN agencies voice alarm at worsening situation, call for urgent action

10 July 2006 – United Nations humanitarian agencies working in the occupied Palestinian territory are alarmed at developments following Israel’s incursion into Gaza, where innocent civilians including children have been killed in actions that have brought increased misery to hundreds of thousands of people and will wreak far-reaching harm on Palestinian society.

“An already alarming situation in Gaza, with poverty rates at nearly 80 per cent and unemployment at nearly 40 per cent, is likely to deteriorate rapidly, unless immediate and urgent action is taken,” they said in a joint statement issued at the weekend.


(snip)

The World Health Organization (WHO) said the public health system is facing an unprecedented crisis, with the current stock of fuel for back-up generators likely to run out within two weeks. In the last week, there has been a 160 per cent increase in cases of diarrhoea compared with the same period last year and the agency predicts that 23 per cent of the essential drug list will be out of stock within a month.

(snip)

The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said children are living in an environment of extraordinary violence, insecurity and fear and the ongoing fighting is hurting them psychologically. Caregivers say children are showing signs of distress and exhaustion, including a 15 to 20 per cent increase in bedwetting, due to shelling and sonic booms.

more: http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=19143&Cr=Palestin&Cr1=

Food, Water Running out For Gaza's Children

Juan Cole:

Even the Jerusalem Post is reporting Tuesday morning:

' International aid organizations reported on Tuesday morning that basic foodstuffs, including flour, sugar and oil, will run out within a few days. The aid organizations submitted reports on the issue to the UN headquarters in New York. In addition, the organizations will report that water supplies are scarce due to the lack of electricity and that the sewage system was no functional.



Palestinian 4-year-olds have not committed any crimes, to be deprived of food, water and medical care.

http://www.juancole.com/

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1. Palestine Children's Relief Fund--- for those who can help

Palestine Children's Relief Fund

http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm/bay/search.summary/orgid/6421.htm

Please, someone pleae help keep this visible, if only even temporarily!