Thursday, March 06, 2008

what do you call a man-made disaster?

Humanitarian situation in Gaza worst since 1967 say aid groups
Agencies
London: The humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip is at its worst since the occupation began in 1967, according to British aid groups. The coalition of groups including Amnesty International, Save the Children and Christian Aid have all criticized Israel’s blockade on Gaza, branding it as illegal collective punishment.
They also called on the international community to resume dialogue with Hamas, as the "international policy of isolating Hamas has not reaped any benefits."
The report entitled Gaza Strip: A Humanitarian Implosion says that almost 75 per cent of people in the private sector have lost their jobs and 1.1 million Gazans are dependent on food aid. The groups have also called on Israel to ensure people in Gaza are able to get basic necessities such as clean water, food and electricity.
The report added: "The situation for 1.5 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip is worse now than at any time since the beginning of the Israeli military occupation in 1967." Amnesty UK Director Kate Allen said: "The current situation is man-made and must be reversed."

Labels: , , ,