Palestinians suffer from abysmal health care

Palestinians suffer from abysmal health care

To say that access to and quality of health care in Gaza is poor is to grossly understate the situation.

The BBC is reporting that 10% - up to 30% in some cities - suffer from stunted growth. That infant mortality and malnutrition are higher than the rest of the Arab world, and that conditions have not improved in any way over the last five years.

According to Dr Hanan Abdul Rahim, as reported by the BBC:

"Mortality rates among infants and under-fives haven't declined much. This is unusual when compared with other Arab countries that used to have similar rates but have managed to bring them down.

"The trend for stunting among children is increasing, and the concern is about the long-term effects. It is caused by chronic malnutrition, and affects cognitive development and physical health.

The same report continues:

Dr Rahim's paper mentions a previously published report from the UN, which says more than 60 Palestinian women have given birth at Israeli checkpoints and 36 of their babies have died as a result.

Yes, that is correct, the cause of this dire health care tragedy in Gaza is the Israeli check points. The brutality of a never ending occupation fully backed by our government, including the Obama administration.

It is time we stopped supporting this. How can we stay blind to the fact that these poor Palestinians are being starved and malnourished, beaten and harassed. Their people starved, their homes reduced to rubble, reduced to dire poverty and denied access to health care.

Enough! End the Occupation!