israel is not upholding international humanitarian laws ...

Int'l Organizations Worried of Shortage of Medical Supplies in Gaza Strip
11/04/2006

{"We confirm that the unjust decisions taken by the United States and the European Union to suspend assistance to the Palestinian Authority has been a green light for Israel to continue its aggression against the Palestinian people… the first of those affected by these decisions is the Ministry of Health, which provides medical and humanitarian services amidst this strangulating siege and calls to isolation," Dr. Naim continued.

The Israeli government has declared earlier that it has stopped all communication and coordination with the new Palestinian government, except personal dealing with President Mahmoud Abbas. It continued its pressure on the international community to stop its contacts with Hamas government, coinciding with the US decision to suspend financial assistance to the PNA.}

*did canada not suspend aid also ? is canada not responsible also for this ... ?

GAZA, April 11, 2006 (IPC + Agencies) - - The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) expressed concern over the suspension of international financial assistance to the Palestinian government, and that this might lead to a humanitarian and economic crisis.

The director of ICRC Operations, Pierre Kr?henbühl, said that his organization is willing to increase its assistance to the Palestinian Authority, but added that humanitarian assistance alone will not prevent the situation from exploding.

Following his return from a visit to Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories, Kr?henbühl told reporters that ICRC is deeply concerned over the possible repercussions on the ground, noting that any decrease in the current economic conditions might lead to a deterioration in the security situation.

"Under International Humanitarian Law, it is the responsibility of the State of Israel to ensure that the basic needs of the civilian population in the occupied [Palestinian] territories are met. These needs include foodstuffs, medical supplies, means of shelter and other essentials. Moreover, the law requires all States party to the Geneva Conventions to allow the free passage of essential humanitarian supplies. " the director of ICRC Operations stated.

Furthermore, the Country Director of the World Food Program in the occupied Palestinian territories, Arnold Vercken, warned of a serious humanitarian crisis in Gaza Strip, hoping that the situation on the political level would not deteriorate to an extent that would cause a large-scale catastrophe.

"We have not yet reached this state, but there are indications that the humanitarian situation of the more impoverished people is exacerbating," Vercken said.

On the other hand, Health Minister Dr. Basem Naim described his ministry's condition as "very difficult" due to the prevention of the entry of medicines and medical supplies to the Palestinian territories by Israel.

Dr. Naim said, in a press conference on Monday, that a large quantity of supplies and medicines are impounded at crossing points due to the closure of these crossings, pointing out that some of these supplies are still at Rafah border crossing or Cairo International Airport because coordination was not made for their entry through the Israeli Kerem Shalom crossing.

The minister further revealed that the Ministry of Health needs more than $4 million to cover its operation costs each month, due to the continuous efforts by medics, doctors and hospital officials, in addition to exhaustion of medical supplies and medicines by patients, asserting that the European and American decisions to suspend financial assistance to the PNA constituted a "green light" to Israel to step-up its military offensive.

"We confirm that the unjust decisions taken by the United States and the European Union to suspend assistance to the Palestinian Authority has been a green light for Israel to continue its aggression against the Palestinian people… the first of those affected by these decisions is the Ministry of Health, which provides medical and humanitarian services amidst this strangulating siege and calls to isolation," Dr. Naim continued.

The Israeli government has declared earlier that it has stopped all communication and coordination with the new Palestinian government, except personal dealing with President Mahmoud Abbas. It continued its pressure on the international community to stop its contacts with Hamas government, coinciding with the US decision to suspend financial assistance to the PNA.

The European Union also decided to suspend its assistance to the Palestinians on Monday, including the assistance allocated to the wages of government employees, which is estimated of about $200 million.