NIEUWS NEDERLANDS PALESTINA KOMITEE
30 december Dr Jean bericht uit Gaza
31/12/2008
Dr Jean van het project Hope in Khan Younis in de Gazastrook bericht over de wanhopige situatie waarin de bevolking zich bevindt
Tuesday, Dec 30, 2008 Gaza Strip
The situation being experienced in the Gaza Strip these days is unbelievable. The situation changes by the minute and the buzz of the pilotless planes [zanana] and the fly over of military F-16 jets is extremely un-nerving – and of course associated bombings
are extremely destructive. Gaza City seems to be getting the worst of the pounding, but all sections of the Strip have been targeted – and continue to be. The whole infrastructure of the Gaza Strip is being destroyed.
To date, more than 380 people have been killed [including 62 women and children; 5 whole families] and at least 1,760 people wounded.
On Saturday 27th 11.30am the bombing began – simultaneously across the Gaza Strip. This was a time when children were going home from the morning shift at school and others were arriving for the afternoon shift. The spokesperson from UNRWA reported that 8 of their students leaving their vocational training classes at the UNRWA Headquarters in Gaza City were killed outright from the bombing of an adjacent building.
Twenty other students were wounded and two of the teachers killed. One of the very many tragic stories of these days.
There was heavy bombing near to where we live in Khan Younis which shook the building, but we were far enough away not to have any damage. Since that time there have been several bombings in the vicinity, the latest being thismorning.
The buildings of the Palestine Red Crescent Society in Gaza City have sustained severe damage at the time of the initial bombing raids because of its
location near to a security building. The ambulance station was largely destroyed
as were five ambulance cars. The emergency services are continuing to function
using the PRCS Al-Quds hospital as the base. The hospital had all windows and
doors broken from the blast and the other two adjacent buildings sustained severe
damage. Al-Quds hospital continues to function working with many of the people
who have been wounded.
All hospitals in the Gaza Strip are struggling to cope with the number of
people wounded in terms of space, medication, and personnel. There has been a
shortage of essential medicines for months because of the Israeli siege on the Gaza
Strip so this current emergency is extremely difficult to deal with. Some supplies
are beginning to be permitted to enter – shipments of medical supplies from both
the Egyptian and Qatar Red Crescents came in through the Rafah Crossing yesterday
and are being distributed to some of the hospitals. Some UN and ICRC shipments have been able to enter today.
The ship ‘Dignity’ of the Free Gaza Movement sailed from Cyprus on Monday night in an attempt to bring in medical supplies and three surgeons. Early Tuesday morning, about 90 miles off the coast of Gaza and in international waters, the ship was shot at and rammed by Israeli Navy ships and driven away – damaged from the event the ship was able to dock at Tyre in southern Lebanon. www.freegaza.org
It seems that airstrikes are happening any where at any time, and people are afraid of moving out of their homes and at the same time feeling insecure in their homes. Some have received messages on the telephone to tell them to leave their home as their building will be bombed – sometimes it is and sometimes it is not. Other homes have been completely demolished, with people inside, without any warning. We, and others, have received phone calls to tell us that if the army comes in we should not resist and we should obey all orders they give. We wonder what this could mean ?
General food and other household items are becoming increasingly difficult to find. It is very difficult to find bread and there is no flour to make bread. There is no fruit – or sometimes some oranges. Yogurt has not been available for more than a week – and so is the pattern of many foods. Parents are having difficulty in finding baby disposable diapers. There is no toilet paper.
With electricity cuts – which has been the pattern of life for months, life in the
winter period is difficult – and now many people have lost the windows of their homes
because of the vibration of the bombs near to them. As with many construction items, it has not been possible to find glass in the Gaza Strip for some months, so many homes will be windowless for an indefinite period. Electricity cuts also interfere with the availability of running water in the homes as the pumps rely on electricity to function.
Gas for cooking is not available. The list can go on, some people being more severely
effected than others, but all facing difficulties.
Israel has declared the Gaza Strip to be a closed military zone. Journalists are not permitted to enter. Tanks are assembled at the border and a ground attack is threatened.
Various websites are giving update information on the events taking place –
www.bbc.co.uk
www.english.aljazeera.com
www.reliefweb.int - click ‘Occupied Palestine Territories’
www.palestinercs.org [due to current re-construction of the site it is not always available, but when available has latest information]
www.miftah.org
www.palestinemonitor.org
www.electronicintifada.net
www.caabu.org
www.haarets.com [Israeli]
We pray that the international community can bring this onslaught to a stop and that there is cessation of all hostilities with recognition of the oppression of the Palestinian people under occupation – with real efforts towards a just peace.
The situation being experienced in the Gaza Strip these days is unbelievable. The situation changes by the minute and the buzz of the pilotless planes [zanana] and the fly over of military F-16 jets is extremely un-nerving – and of course associated bombings
are extremely destructive. Gaza City seems to be getting the worst of the pounding, but all sections of the Strip have been targeted – and continue to be. The whole infrastructure of the Gaza Strip is being destroyed.
To date, more than 380 people have been killed [including 62 women and children; 5 whole families] and at least 1,760 people wounded.
On Saturday 27th 11.30am the bombing began – simultaneously across the Gaza Strip. This was a time when children were going home from the morning shift at school and others were arriving for the afternoon shift. The spokesperson from UNRWA reported that 8 of their students leaving their vocational training classes at the UNRWA Headquarters in Gaza City were killed outright from the bombing of an adjacent building.
Twenty other students were wounded and two of the teachers killed. One of the very many tragic stories of these days.
There was heavy bombing near to where we live in Khan Younis which shook the building, but we were far enough away not to have any damage. Since that time there have been several bombings in the vicinity, the latest being thismorning.
The buildings of the Palestine Red Crescent Society in Gaza City have sustained severe damage at the time of the initial bombing raids because of its
location near to a security building. The ambulance station was largely destroyed
as were five ambulance cars. The emergency services are continuing to function
using the PRCS Al-Quds hospital as the base. The hospital had all windows and
doors broken from the blast and the other two adjacent buildings sustained severe
damage. Al-Quds hospital continues to function working with many of the people
who have been wounded.
All hospitals in the Gaza Strip are struggling to cope with the number of
people wounded in terms of space, medication, and personnel. There has been a
shortage of essential medicines for months because of the Israeli siege on the Gaza
Strip so this current emergency is extremely difficult to deal with. Some supplies
are beginning to be permitted to enter – shipments of medical supplies from both
the Egyptian and Qatar Red Crescents came in through the Rafah Crossing yesterday
and are being distributed to some of the hospitals. Some UN and ICRC shipments have been able to enter today.
The ship ‘Dignity’ of the Free Gaza Movement sailed from Cyprus on Monday night in an attempt to bring in medical supplies and three surgeons. Early Tuesday morning, about 90 miles off the coast of Gaza and in international waters, the ship was shot at and rammed by Israeli Navy ships and driven away – damaged from the event the ship was able to dock at Tyre in southern Lebanon. www.freegaza.org
It seems that airstrikes are happening any where at any time, and people are afraid of moving out of their homes and at the same time feeling insecure in their homes. Some have received messages on the telephone to tell them to leave their home as their building will be bombed – sometimes it is and sometimes it is not. Other homes have been completely demolished, with people inside, without any warning. We, and others, have received phone calls to tell us that if the army comes in we should not resist and we should obey all orders they give. We wonder what this could mean ?
General food and other household items are becoming increasingly difficult to find. It is very difficult to find bread and there is no flour to make bread. There is no fruit – or sometimes some oranges. Yogurt has not been available for more than a week – and so is the pattern of many foods. Parents are having difficulty in finding baby disposable diapers. There is no toilet paper.
With electricity cuts – which has been the pattern of life for months, life in the
winter period is difficult – and now many people have lost the windows of their homes
because of the vibration of the bombs near to them. As with many construction items, it has not been possible to find glass in the Gaza Strip for some months, so many homes will be windowless for an indefinite period. Electricity cuts also interfere with the availability of running water in the homes as the pumps rely on electricity to function.
Gas for cooking is not available. The list can go on, some people being more severely
effected than others, but all facing difficulties.
Israel has declared the Gaza Strip to be a closed military zone. Journalists are not permitted to enter. Tanks are assembled at the border and a ground attack is threatened.
Various websites are giving update information on the events taking place –
www.bbc.co.uk
www.english.aljazeera.com
www.reliefweb.int - click ‘Occupied Palestine Territories’
www.palestinercs.org [due to current re-construction of the site it is not always available, but when available has latest information]
www.miftah.org
www.palestinemonitor.org
www.electronicintifada.net
www.caabu.org
www.haarets.com [Israeli]
We pray that the international community can bring this onslaught to a stop and that there is cessation of all hostilities with recognition of the oppression of the Palestinian people under occupation – with real efforts towards a just peace.
Overzicht archief