Egyptian Humanitarian mission calls for solution to the crisis of stranded Palestinians at Rafah border crossing

Friday October 26, 2007 14:59 by Rami al-Meghari - IMEMC johnsmithimemc at gmail dot com

The Egyptian physicians syndicate on Friday called on the international community to alleviate the suffering of those two thousand Palestinians stranded on the Egyptian side of Gaza-Egypt since June because of Israeli border closures.

The syndicate, which has been providing food and medicine to the stranded Palestinians, branded the ongoing crisis a "humanitarian disaster," arguing that the situation is deteriorating as the number stranded increases every day while the Rafah terminal remains closed.

Dr. Abdelqader Hejazi, the syndicate's chairman, stated that their organization will be distributing a total of 200,000 (about US$30,000) Egyptian pounds to those stranded on the Egyptian side of the border.

On the Gaza side of the border, approximately 5,000 Palestinians have been unable to return to work or receive medical attention outside the region due to Israeli suspension of travel permissions through the alternative Eretz crossing

In August, Israel allowed the return to the Gaza Strip of six thousands stranded Palestinians through an Israeli-Egyptian commercial crossing in southern Israel.

In mid June, Israel ordered the closure of the Rafah crossing terminal in the southern Gaza Strip, citing 'security considerations' as a justification.

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