ADC Calls for Immediate Lifting of Israeli Blockade of Gaza, Chronic Malnutrition Damaging Health of Palestinians

posted on: Nov 20, 2008

The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) calls for the immediate lifting of the blockade imposed by Israel on the Gaza Strip. ADC calls on the international community to pressure Israel to lift the blockade and to act without delay to stop this growing humanitarian crisis.

ADC Communications Director Laila Al-Qatami said, “The situation for the 1.5 million residents of Gaza is dire. Israel’s repeated blockades deprive the people of Gaza their most basic human rights. 80% of the population relies of humanitarian assistance to survive and because travel in and out of the Gaza Strip is basically impossible, supplies of food and water are scarce. Hospitals lack medicine and supplies. Rolling power cuts affect everyone. On Monday, the first shipment of supplies in two weeks made it into the territory, but these supplies will only last mere days.”

A 46-page report by the International Committee of the Red Cross, chronicles the impact of Israel’s repeated blockades of Gaza on the people of Gaza. The report said the Israeli blockade is responsible for the steady rise in chronic malnutrition of 1.5 million residents of the Gaza Strip, noting that the dramatic fall in living standards has led to alarming vitamin and mineral deficiencies of those living in Gaza.