GAZA (PIC)– The blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip is into its fourth year and there are no signs of it being ended soon and although the blockade is political in nature it is the ordinary person who is paying the price.
What sin have thousands of Gaza patients committed to be deprived of medicine or even seeking medical treatment abroad? How do medicines threaten Zionist security to be prevented from entering the Strip?
The greatest sin of those patients from the view point of the countries that impose the siege is that they chose “Hamas” in a democratic election and they have to pay the price for that. There is no other explanation.
The advantage of the siege on Gaza is that it has exposed the real of face of many countries who advocate democracy and human rights and lecture other countries about their virtues but when it comes to the crunch they really mean democracy and human rights that serve their and the Zionists’ interests.
It also proved the absence of international justice and the double standards practiced by the “international community.”
The ministry of health of the Gaza government reporte earlier this month that its stores are depleted of 114 items of medicines in Gaza Strip provoking no humanitarian response from the international community or any solid moves towards breaking the stifling blockade.
Milk of children runs out
Dr. Munir al-Barsh director general of pharmacy in the ministry of health asserted that 114 items out of stock and 90 other items to run out within one to three months according the needs of patients
Dr. al-Barsh in an interview with the “Palestinian Information Center” said: “Phenyl Free Milk for children assigned to patients with phenylketonuria (PKU) is the most important item of medicines that have been run out. The number of sick children who need this formula is more than 300.”
He also pointed out that another important formula milk (Netranagil) psychiatric medicines particularly for epilepsy (Depakin) cancer drugs immunosuppressive drugs and the medicine of patients with Haemophilia factor 8.9 where the number of people with this illness is more than 70 in addition to the depletion of anti-toxin medicines and dyes used in radiography departments.
Dr. al-Barsh also stressed the importance of these items and the urgent need of patients for them. He noted that if these items are not provided as quickly as possible the crisis would exacerbate and threaten the lives of patients.
Disastrous consequences
For his part Ahmed al-Ashi director of public relations and information in the ministry of health said:” We sent several extreme warnings that dozens of items of medicines and health supplies are running out. We also appealed and appeal once again to all humanitarian and international organizations International Red Cross the Arab League the Organization of Islamic Conference and all conscientious people to intervene immediately in order to open the crossings and allow the entry of these devices to save the lives of patients before it is too late.”
Mr. al-Ashi told the “Palestinian Information Center”: “The continued brutal Israeli siege on the Gaza Strip is boding that health condition is deteriorating greatly and going down to the lowest levels due to the acute shortage of medicines and medical supplies.”
The full picture of the criminal blockade is realised when Egyptian and Zionist crossings are closed before dozens of patients with deteriorating health conditions trying to travel outside Gaza Strip for treatment. As a result dozens of patients died.
Anger is prevailing among patients in the Gaza Strip. Haj Hassan al-Najjar (63 years) suffers from kidney failure said to the Palestinian Information Center: “We are in Gaza waiting for death due to lack of medicines. I have come here many times and I did not get my medicine because it is not available. Why do we bear the brunt of the political pressure on the Gaza Strip? What is the fault of the patients?”. Al-Najjar called on opening all crossings of Gaza Strip so that food and medicines get into Gaza.
Executing patients
Many human rights organizations have already warned of the dangerous catastrophic repercussions of running out of dozens of medical items and supplies in Gaza Strip. They pointed out that that means executing hundreds of patients who are in dire need of these medicines.
Al-Dameer for Human Rights Association Mezan Center for Human Rights and the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights maintained in similar statements that the Israeli siege had major impact on the basic human rights of the Palestinians which made them live under a humanitarian catastrophe.
The three human rights organizations said that they are deeply concerned because of the rapid deterioration of health and humanitarian conditions in Gaza Strip. They also called on international and humanitarian organizations to put an end to the continued closure of border crossings of Gaza Strip.
