New Form of Israeli Genocide Perpetrated Against Palestinians: Sharp Increase in Death Rate Among Newly-Born Children in Gaza

Palestinian doctors: Israeli siege on Gaza causes more death among children

[ 23/05/2008 - 11:28 AM ]

GAZA, (PIC)--

Palestinian doctors have warned on Thursday that the Israeli blockade on Gaza Strip was taking its heavy toll on Palestinian children as death rate among newly-born children sharply increased due to lack of medical equipments and electricity.

They also underlined that the embargo wasn’t also affecting newly-born babies, but rather, they explained, it was inflicting "catastrophic" psychological and health problems among Gaza children in general.

"The [Israeli] siege means no electricity, which also means that all medical equipment in Gaza hospitals stopped operating, leading to the sharp increase in death rate among newly-born babies", said Dr. Younis Awadallah of the primary health care in the PA health ministry.

According to Awadallah, the lack of electricity [due to the siege] led to the termination of many water pumps that caused a severe shortage in potable water, leaving negative repercussions on the health of the Palestinian children.

"The Palestinian children were suffering psychological problems, including anxiety, sleeplessness and constant fear caused by the repeated IOF troops' incursions and aggressions on the Gaza Strip", Awadallah explained.

He stressed, "If we fail to immediately provide Palestinian children with the health protection they need and deserve, then, a humanitarian catastrophe is going to take place in the very near future."

The Child Program in the Dhameer (conscience) foundation that caters for human rights in the Palestinian territories seconded Awadallah remarks, affirming that a high number of Palestinian children were suffering from malnutrition and anemia as a result of the Israeli economic blockade.

"Health doesn’t only mean sickness-free society, but rather it extends to cover the social, psychological, and mental wellbeing of the people in addition to the availability of necessary health services", said the Palestinian center for human rights.

Many concerned Palestinian, regional, and international organizations, including the European campaign for the lifting of Gaza siege among other groups had repeatedly warned that the continuation of the Israeli blockade would lead to a series of human, environmental, and ecological disasters.

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