Tens of thousands of Gazans are still homeless, warn international organizations

Tens of thousands of Gazans are still homeless

warn international organizations

[ 20/04/2009 - 10:40 AM ]

GAZA, (PIC)--

A coalition of international humanitarian organizations in the Gaza Strip warned that tens of thousands of Gaza citizens are still homeless and do not have access to many basic services such as clean drinking water months after the end of the Israeli devastating war on Gaza.

The organizations appealed to the international community especially the EU to practically enhance the scarce humanitarian aid it provides to the impoverished Gaza people whose suffering increased after the Israeli war.

Maya Myers, the director of care organization in Palestine, said that if the EU did not put an end to its intentions to strengthen its relations with Israel, this would give a serious indication to the world that the policy of blockade and destruction is acceptable to the EU.

Myers added that the industrial and agricultural sectors in Gaza nearly collapsed and the reconstruction process became almost impossible, noting that the last Israeli war destroyed the Gaza economy which was already fragile after months of blockade.

She called for opening all Gaza crossings and allowing the normal passage of vital needs into Gaza to alleviate the escalating suffering of its people.

The care official pointed out that the reconstruction process in Gaza is at standstill because of the Israeli ban imposed on the entry of construction materials, which means that 20,000 homeless Palestinian families composed of about 140,000 individuals will remain on the streets and unable to rebuild their lives.

The official noted that more than 35,000 people in Gaza also do not have access to safe drinking water or sewage systems.

For his part, John Prideaux-Brune, the director of British Oxfam organization, said that there is no progress at all regarding the reconstruction process, adding that the scenes of despair and frustration in Gaza created a sense of horror in the ranks of some international figures like Javier Solana, the EU high commissioner for foreign affairs.

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