A day in Gaza
Union Aid Abroad - APHEDA's Middle East Project Officer, Lisa Arnold, is currently in the Middle East on a monitoring visit. Read Lisa's 'A day in Gaza' blog.
Union Aid Abroad - APHEDA | Occupied Palestinian Territories: Gaza Humanitarian Appeal
The Gaza blockade entered its fifth year June 2011. This blockade has been characterized by the UN’s most senior humanitarian official, John Holmes, as a form of collective punishment on the entire Gazan population.
The blockade was imposed by Israel after the Palestinian Hamas organisation took control over the security apparatus in the Gaza Strip in June 2007. Since then, Gaza's largest and best equipped commercial crossing, Karni, has been shut down; the amount of imports allowed in have been reduced to approximately 20 percent of the level before the imposition of the blockade and limited, to a large extent, to food, medical and hygiene products; exports were entirely banned, except for a few exceptional truckloads of flowers. These measures have devastated the private sector economy and resulted in the closure of 95 percent of the previously operating businesses and the loss of 120,000 jobs. Moreover, the ongoing ban on the import of construction materials is preventing the reconstruction of 6,300 homes, destroyed or seriously damaged during the Israeli "Cast Lead" military offensive of December 2008/January 2009, as well as dozens of schools and health facilities.
The blockade has 'locked in' 1.5 million Palestinians in what is one of the most densely populated areas on earth, triggering a protracted human dignity crisis. At the heart of this crisis is the degradation of living conditions. Alongside the Israeli blockade are recurrent cycles of violence and human rights violations, stemming from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and Hamas's rule over Gaza. The denial of Palestinians' right to leave Gaza, or to move freely to the West Bank, particularly when their lives or basic freedoms are under threat, is another key component of the current human dignity crisis.
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Occupied Palestinian Territories: "Bringing health home for Palestinians"
Union Aid Abroad - APHEDA are launching a new appeal to purchase a replacement mobile medical clinic for our partner Patient's Friends Society (PFS) in Jenin, West Bank. The current vehicle was significantly damaged by the Israeli army in 2007 and is on its last legs.
Patient's Friends Society provides mobile health services to 10 villages in the Jenin area, reaching around 80,000 Palestinians. Often PFS operates the only medical service available in the villages.
The PFS mobile medical team visit each village once a week. The team consists of a gynaecologist, health workers, a laboratory technician and a driver. The team carry with them medicines, ultrasound equipment, medical instruments, blood testing equipment, and an electrical generator, as electricity supply in the villages is regularly interrupted.
The mobile clinical services are particularly important for women's health needs, with the medical team providing not only home visits and close care of women during pregnancy and childbirth, but also education on family health care issues.
Please click here for more information and to make a donation.
Documenting life in Gaza
As the illegal Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip continues into its fourth year, view a video documentary on the realities of life in Gaza today.
Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA has been working with the El Wafa Medical Rehabilitation Hospital in Gaza City since 2000. This hospital is the only hospital service in the Gaza Strip which offers medical services and support for disabled Palestinians.
Through its Gaza Appeal Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA have been able to send over A$654,000 to the El Wafa Hospital, allowing them to continue providing the important services and support necessary for the elderly and disabled patients and their families.
In June 2010, the El Wafa Hospital produced a short 10-minute documentary video of their work in Gaza, highlighting the contribution of APHEDA's donors and supporters. View the video on the APHEDA YouTube site.
Palestinian advocate visits Australia
Palestinian lawyer and advocate Diana Buttu visited Australia recently to highlight the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the West Bank. Australian trade unions, including the ANF, sponsored Ms Buttu’s visit.
Palestinian people in Israeli occupied territories are facing a system of apartheid under which they have lost their homes, possessions, citizenship and residency status, in their own country. Ms Buttu addressed a meeting in Canberra, with representatives from all major political parties, in which she explained the plight of the Palestinian people. Click here to view Diana’s address.
ANF saddened by loss of life
The Australian Nursing Federation feels saddened by the unnecessary loss of life from the aid flotilla that was taking much needed assistance to the people of Gaza.
Nurses and midwives believe in diplomatic avenues and not violence as a means of resolving conflict. The death of nine civilians on the Mavi Marmara in international waters is a disturbing breach of international law.
The ANF calls for reason, compromise and respect for human life, especially in regards to civilians.
Further information
Union AId Abroad - APHEDA Middle East Overview
Photograph: Krista McClelland