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Press Release
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Thousands of Palestinians in Gaza are
suffering from a chronic humanitarian crisis that is deepening
during the disengagement period.
Liz Sime, CARE’s country director for West Bank and Gaza said:
"Poverty in Gaza is increasing at an alarming rate. The UN predicts
more than 70 percent of the population will be living below the
poverty level by next year. This is an extremely vulnerable
population. Their ability to cope would be severely challenged by
further restrictions on their mobility and capacity to get to
hospitals, markets and water sources. We cannot ignore their basic
needs during the disengagement process, which is likely to take
several months."
While media attention has understandably focused on the experiences
of Israeli settlers, CARE urges the international community to
recognize the ongoing needs of the many poor villagers and farmers
in the area. Their ability to reach essential services such as
medical centers and to travel to work and markets is under
increasing strain during the disengagement
During this process movement has been restricted inside Gaza,
closing off various Palestinian communities. A checkpoint in the
middle of the Gaza Strip is closed during the day, and opens at
night, from 1am and 5 am, to allow movement from the north to the
south of the Gaza Strip. Other restrictions on movement are in force
in the West Bank areas near the settlements to be evacuated.
In anticipation of these restrictions, CARE, which has been based in
the West Bank and Gaza since 1948, has distributed medical supplies
to 70 health clinics in the affected communities. These village
clinics serve more than 50,000 poor families.
Sime said, "We have helped village clinics stock up on essential
medical supplies, so that if their community were to be affected by
a closure, or movement restriction, the doctors and nurses will at
least have medicine to treat patients on the spot. We have also
provided additional medical stretchers and electrical generators to
hospitals in Gaza so that they can better cope with power shortages
and major medical emergencies."
About CARE in West Bank and Gaza: CARE has worked in West Bank and
Gaza since 1948, with the exception of a 10-year period from
1984-1994. CARE works in partnership with 23 local and international
nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and nine government ministries
and departments on integrated and children's health projects as well
as projects working to improve agriculture and natural resources and
encourage small economic activities.
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