Monday, June 9, 2008

Visit to Gaza - extended longer than planned

I recently went on an overnight visit to Gaza. However, whilst i was in Gaza there was an extremely large suicide truck bombing at Erez crossing which caused extensive damage closing Erez crossing for four days which meant that I had an unplanned four extra days in Gaza.

This baby is at a UNICEF supported child care clinic to receive treatment for lack of nourishment. The child is 6 months old but looks much younger and is very weak and sick. This is one of the effects of the blockade that Israel imposes on Gaza. Such malnourishment cases weren't seen before the blockade. The humanitarian situation in Gaza is clearly deteriorating. This malnourishment case is usually observed in famine areas of Africa, not in Palestine. The situation was distressing for me to observe and it must be terrible for the parents.

Gaza street scene. The cars are being fuelled by cooking oil as there is a severe shortage of petrol and deisel as a result of the blockade. The cooking oil doesn't burn well and can be smelt in the streets. These fumes are causing respiratory problems for people exposed to them.

Stuart is a Kiwi and was attempting to teach these children the Haka!

Life for Gazans goes on. This family is trying to relax by watching the sunset over the Mediterrenean Sea. The fishing boats are only allowed to go 6 nautical miles from the coast and are fired upon by Israeli naval boats if they approach that limit. At night time tracer fire from Israeli naval boats could be seen being fired at or near fishing boats.