March 21, 2008

(Originally published in the Canadian Islamic Congress Friday Magazine )

 

Canada Must Address Immediate Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza

By Dr. Keith Martin, MP

The Canadian Government has done little to address the
immediate humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Its 1.5 million
residents are frequently without water, electricity,
or fuel and are living in what the United
Nations Relief Works Agency (UNRWA) refers to as "a
prolonged and persistent socio-economic crisis." In
fact, conditions are now the worst seen since the
1960s.

In September 2007, Israel's security cabinet
unanimously declared the Gaza Strip as an "enemy
entity."  Following this declaration, the movement of
people to and from Gaza -- including those in urgent
need of medical care -- was severely restricted. The
local economy was crippled and the import of basic
needs, such as medicines and fuel, was cut off.

Despite calling for "unhindered humanitarian access,"
the Canadian government has not provided any emergency
assistance to Gazans, although Canada did pledge $300
million over five years for the reform of
Palestinian security and governance at the Paris
donors' conference in December 2007.  Things seemed
hopeful then; Israelis and Palestinians committed to
negotiations to be concluded in one year. These are
laudable goals but sadly, they do little to address
the immediate humanitarian disaster plaguing Gaza.

In January, Israel announced that it was suspending
the movement of fuel and goods into the region.  As a
result, Gaza's water authority facilities ran out of
fuel and the area's wells failed, leaving 40-50 per
cent of the population with no access to running
water.  In addition, four sewage pumping stations in
Gaza flooded when pumps failed because of a lack of
fuel and/or spare parts.  This resulted in the release
of 40 million litres per day of raw sewage into the
sea.

As a result of the fuel stoppage, three of Gaza's
eleven hospitals faced severe operating restrictions.
As well, diagnostic and dental services were shut down
in 32 out of 56 health care facilities due to the
absence of functioning generators. The provision of
immunization services was maintained with difficulty,
but other resources, such as reproductive
health services, were also severely affected.

Between February 27 and March 2, 2008, 107
Palestinians were killed by the Israeli Defense Forces
and 250 were injured.  During the same period,
two Israeli soldiers and one Israeli civilian were
killed; 25 others were injured, mainly by rockets and
missiles fired towards Israel.  These to and fro
attacks exacerbate an already deteriorating
humanitarian situation and worsen conditions for the
collapsing medical system.  According to UNICEF,
children -- who make up more than half the population
of Gaza -- are bearing the brunt of the crisis.  Signs
of children being under extreme stress are at epidemic
proportions.

According to the UN Office of the Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Gaza's health facilities
showed zero availability for 19.2% of essential drugs
and 31.2% of essential medical supplies during January
2008 due to a lack of financial resources.  This
includes basic antibiotics for children and drugs for
oncology (cancer treatment).  Compounding these
shortages is lack of access to specialized treatment
in Egyptian hospitals due to the closure of the Rafah
Border crossing.

Currently, 1.1 million Gazans receive food assistance
from the World Food Program and the UNRWA, but at a
level less than a person's basic daily caloric needs.
This prolonged malnourishment is especially harmful to
pregnant women and young children, who will suffer
long term damage without adequate nutrition.

A UN special appeal for humanitarian aid to the Gaza
Strip has so far brought in only a small percentage of
the US $9.8 million needed. Recently, UNRWA
Commissioner-General Karen Abu Zayd said: "I speak to
you today from a besieged and war-torn Gaza as head of
the lead agency charged by the international community
with bringing humanitarian relief to a
suffering people.  I am horrified at the violence
engulfing Gaza, where the death toll of innocent
civilians, including children, rises each hour.
At the same time, I condemn the rockets, which lead to
a senseless loss of civilian lives.  I ask that the
international community intervene to help
put an end to this deadly and destructive violence."

How has the Canadian government responded to this
escalating humanitarian disaster?  It has done
nothing; it has kept an unconscionable silence. We
cannot afford to remain inactive any longer in the
face of a humanitarian crisis that has derailed the
peace process. The mounting number of civilians killed
or injured on both sides of this divide will only lead
the region into a deeper spiral of violence and
conflict as witnessed by the horrific recent attack in
Jerusalem.  In this we all lose.
________________________________________________

Dr. Keith Martin MD is the Liberal Member of Parliament
for Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca and the Official Opposition
Critic for International Development.

*****************

Originally published in the Canadian Islamic Congress Friday Magazine

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