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Gaza faces major health crisis

Sealed borders prevent essential medical treatment and keep drugs off the shelves

After another round of Israeli air strikes and military incursions into Gaza early Wednesday morning residents have cited a deepening economic crisis, fear of a health crisis and constant attacks from Israel as evidence that the humanitarian situation in the region has never been worse.

Cross border attacks into Gaza by the Israeli military are almost daily occurrences, and have resulted in eighty five deaths since July 16th. Israel's tight border restrictions have turned essential items into rarities while sending prices soaring, according to Gaza residents.

"Prices are high because there's no food. The flour in Gaza has never been so expensive," says local Gazan journalist Mohammad Dawwas. "My wife wanted to make a pizza but couldn't find cheese."

"It's never been so bad, people are experiencing economic hardship as they've never experienced it before. All the factories are closed, with 25,000 employees laid off. Gaza is closed, people don't work, it's terrible," adds Dawwas. Since June a total of more than 75,000 private sector workers have been laid off in Gaza, and the accumulated private sector losses are estimated at $51 million.

Aed Yaghi, Director of the Gaza program of the Palestinian Medical Relief Society, warns of a health crisis within weeks if not days if the borders remain closed to goods transport. He says that the restrictions have already severely interrupted the administering of medical attention in Gaza. Both Karni and Rafah crossings have been closed since June, leading to shortages of essential medications and medical equipment. Along with highly restricting access to medical attention, the closures also prevent Gazans have from gaining entry to Egypt to receive medical attention. The UN Agency for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has described the closures at these crossings, as "unprecedented."

"There is a shortage of many drugs and medical supplies, and kidney dialysis machines are needed. [Hospitals] have changed [dialysis] treatments from 3 times weekly to twice weekly," says Yaghi. He adds that whilst receiving medical attention is becoming increasingly difficult, the Israeli military attacks are generating vast increases in psychological trauma - especially amongst children and the elderly.

Referencing the impacts of unpredictable Israeli attacks, Dawwas adds, "Everybody is psychologically interrupted, they don't know what things are going to be like in the next hour."

Since 1994 - when Israel began a process of sealing in the Strip - Gazans have been experiencing increased strains on living conditions and mobility. Eighty percent of the population is now living below the poverty line. Israel's settler and military re-deployment from the Strip in June 2005 also resulted in Gaza's approximately 1.48 million residents being virtually cut off from the rest of the world, with Israel controlling all the borders, air space and territorial waters. Adding to the crisis are the Israeli government's continued threats to cut Gaza's electricity and water supplies if Qassam rocket attacks continue.

Gazan taxi drivers are often considered to be on the front lines of the crisis, providing cheap and accessible transport in times of need. Taxi driver Fayze Abu Hammad reports that business is dismal: people can't even make enough money to buy food and clothes for their families, yet he highlights that in spite of the shortages, people are banding together to support each other. "Neighbors help neighbors, brothers help brothers, providing food and helping out," he says, adding that without the solidarity the situation would be far worse.

None-the-less Rahid El Maha - also a Gazan cab driver - says that as long as the borders stay closed and Israel and the West refuse to talk to Hamas, the future looks bleak.

"My father's life was better than mine, and my life is better than my children's will be," he says. "Everything is off the shelves and there is no business. Who will make us safe? I have wanted to leave [Gaza] since 1990."

Jesse Rosenfeld is a freelance journalist currently based in Ramallah