A real disaster threatening Gaza's population following the paralysis of basic services due to the continued siege and closure

The Palestinian International Campaign to End the Siege on Gaza and Al

Dameer Association for Human Rights

May 12^th, 2008

The Palestinian International Campaign to End the Siege on Gaza and Al Dameer Association for Human Rights are observing with a big concern the dangerous repercussions.

the Israeli occupation of the economic siege policy and the closure borders adopted by a cruel and inhumanterian procedures including stop of the fuel supply , preventing patients from traveling to access treatment and the movement of the people and goods, moreover in determining the international relief organization role because of the inability to work under this crisis.

These procedures which are considered as a collective punishment many of the repercussions affects negatively human rights for the Palestinian citizens which are admitted in The Human Rights Organization and it caused a semi total paralysis in all main branches life in Gaza, so the transportation sector was stopped in a partial way also it weaken the healthy, educational and the sewage system  sectors work, also  the siege caused the weakness of the ability to the municipality and the village councils to do its' work and duties, that made the civilians in Gaza live in a real disaster which led the children, women and old men paid the price for it, Al Dameer Association and The Palestinian International Campaign to End the Siege always worn about it and The International Community demands to not sacrifice the human rights, moreover the two associations understand that the International testaments and agreements are found to protect the human rights not to ignore the human rights and sacrifice it.

The most reflections and the repercussions in life for tens of civilians who need well medications outside Gaza, there're a big number of the sacrifice from patience who're prevented from traveling, tens of patience died from the humanitarian crisis before to months 69 Palestinian citizen from the begging of year 2008, because of the preventing of traveling a brood to get the suitable treatment, or the lack of medicines in Gaza, which follow it with weakness in the ability of the components of the health sector to do its work.

These repercussions are increasing daily due to the decline of the humanitarian situation in Gaza Strip because of the collective punishment which is imposed on the civilians in Gaza Strip since more than ten months.

The dangerous  repercussions started to be reflected due to the continuous economic siege imposed by the occupation authority on the public life of the Palestinians in Gaza Strip which caused a case of a partial paralysis, where the two associations allocate these repercussions :

1-      Some areas in Gaza Strip turned to be ghost city. Social or economic movement have been suspended because of the fueling crisis and lack of transportation. Suspension of fuel shipments grounded more than 90% of Gaza taxi cars; a situation forced drivers to use cooking oil as a fuel and caused a health and environmental problems. It is also posing a genuine threat on the public health of the Palestinian citizen.

2-      Due to the Israeli ban of the entry of the needed quantities of fuel shipments into Gaza, Electricity Generation Company has been forced to carry out certain electricity cutoffs to economize the consumption of fuel for back up generators. 90% of vital utilities including water, sanitation and sewage system are expected to stop, knowing that water network is experiencing a decline of efficiency from 50% to 70%. 37 sewage pumping stations sanitation can no pump or treat sewage as they ran out of fuel, and due to the lack of maintenance and spare parts as the result of the closure and the Israeli siege; 50 thousand liter of sewage have been flowing into the sea water daily.

3-      The fueling crisis caused reduced the access of  70% of Gaza's population to once a week, as a result of the stoppage of water wells.

4-      The continuous ban on providing Gaza Strip with fuel undermined university and school students' ability to reach their destinations. They wait for hours so that they get a ride in a desperate bid to reach their schools and universities, which constitutes an absolute violation of the right to education.

5-      The repeated crisis resulted from the Israeli siege on Gaza Strip prevented employees to go to their work, in a way that is threatening the provision of the whole services for the Palestinian citizens.

6-      The closure policy has halted exporting and importing operations from and to Gaza Strip, which has exacerbated the economic crisis, in addition to the Israeli prevention on the entry of pesticide and vet drugs required by the agricultural sector.

7-      The occupation policy and closure of the borders have further deteriorated services of health sector, and a big shortage of medicine needed by patients of chronic diseases.

8-      Closure has also undermined opportunities of economic growth and the development of private sector. Instability is still posing an obstacle in front of investment. Private investment has been experiencing recession because of closure, and the rise of operating costs. The worst occurred following the Israeli deletion of Gaza's traders' codes from the Israeli system dated June 21, 2007, a measure aimed at ending direct importing by Gaza Strip importers, and Gaza's dependence on Israeli importers causing a loss of revenue.

9-      Closure impeded Gaza's ability to meet its daily needs including food, fuel, power and construction materials. The United Nations have estimated that 900 truckloads were entering Gaza weekly, at minimum 150 truckloads on a daily basis.

10-  The sky-rocketing unemployment in the Palestinian society result in a high level of poverty. 80% of Gaza's population rely on humanitarian aid. As reported, relief organizations have warned of a suspensions their aid programs due to running out of fuel.

11-  Gaza Strip population are suffering from an ongoing environmental crisis, among which the suspension of 40% of solid waste collection operations in Gaza  because of its inability to meet the increasing needs of the population. 25 solid waste collection vehicles stopped working due to the lack of spare parts as a result of the closure. Therefore, this situation is increasing the risk of uncollected waste and its impact on the residents, ad is further exacerbating the crisis presented in the accumulation of tons of uncollected solid waste in Gaza Strip, particularly North Gaza.

In the light of these dangerous repercussions, "The Palestinian International Campaign to End the Siege on Gaza" and "Al Dameer Association for Human Rights" assured emphasize that the siege on the civilians in Gaza Strip is considered a sort of collective punishment and acts of revenge by the Israeli occupation. This constitutes a brutal violation of the International humanitarian law including the forth Geneva convention of 1949 and the added protocol 1 of 1977. We also call on:

·        The international community especially the High Contracting Parties on the forth Geneva agreement in 1949 to put pressure on Israel as an occupation power to comply with its obligations towards the people of Gaza, and to end the siege and closure.

·         The International community to stand for the concepts of human rights through assuming its moral and legal responsibilities towards the civilians in Gaza Strip.

We consider the international community's ongoing failure to fulfill its moral and legal commitment and its silence over the Israeli crimes and siege in Gaza Strip a sign of encouraging the Israeli authorities to pursue its significant violations, which we brand as war crimes.