Gaza kids who suffer post-traumatic stress, Children becoming assassination victims

[Tom Joad]

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/12/24/INGBBN1VKK1
.DTL&hw=gaza&sn=005&sc=575

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The World Health Organization said the targeting of Gaza's critical infrastructure, such as the destruction of Gaza's only power plant during recent conflicts, has initiated a chain reaction of lack of power, scarcity of fuel for generators and a shortage of water. This, in turn, has harmed the functioning of the health system and negatively affected people's health.

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Articles 19 and 50 of the Fourth Geneva Conventions state clearly the responsibility of the occupying power -- in this case Israel -- to treat humanely the wounded and sick, to protect hospitals and to care for children. Physicians for Human Rights-Israel has demanded Israel's compliance with the Geneva Conventions, to which Israel is bound as a signer.

The World Food Program has indicated that "the growing number of poor in Gaza are living on the bare minimum and face a daily struggle to cover their daily food needs." As a result of the present crisis, 70 percent of Gaza's population doesn't have enough to eat. This has forced the World Food Program to increase the number of Gazans given monthly aid to 220,000 persons from 160,000 -- including poor farmers and fishermen.

According to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, large tracts of agricultural land have been damaged as a result of the Israel Defense Forces ground incursions. Access and movement in and out of Gaza are still compromised. Closures of key border points have affected the ability of Gazans to obtain essential medical care not available in Gaza.

UNICEF estimates that almost 840,000 Palestinian children living inGaza bear the consequences of shelling and attacks by Israel. At the same time, shortages and closures make it practically impossible to deliver good health care. Destruction of the main power plant, water shortages and water contamination create the conditions for outbreaks of communicable diseases, which mainly affect children.

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please read the full article.

One of the other additional statistics it points to is that during the
period between Sept. 28, 2000, and Aug. 20, 2001 some 68 Palestinian
women gave birth at checkpoints. 34 newborns died. 4 mothers died.

Occupied Palestine is still a dangerous place to give birth, even 2,000 years later after that famous birth in Roman-Occupied Palestine.

Over 150,000 Palestinian and Israeli children suffer from post-traumatic stress disorders. Remember these children.

Remember the Children who have died in the conflict. http://www.rememberthesechildren.org

In Hope of a more peaceful New Year.