The Author's note: This post was submitted by Sammeh Habib of the Palestine Telegraph.
Gaza Strip, April 22, 2009, (Pal Telegraph) – Israel’s siege of the Gaza Strip is still causing the loss of Palestinian life. A Palestinian man mid of his fifties died an hour ago due to a lack of needed medication and treatment.
Nai'm El Ejla, 58, became severely ill directly after the war on Gaza. Doctors in Gaza failed in diagnosing his case, which was vague till the death.
He was stuck on the borders with Egypt many times. He tried to travel to Israel for treatment but failed to convince authorities to permit his passage.
Ebrahim, 24, journalist from Gaza and son of Mr. Nai'm reported for the Palestine Telegraph of his father's death.
"We tried to give him treatment but we failed. He is Shaid (Martyr) of the siege. Doctors in Gaza were not able to help him. We tried to send him to Egypt but we failed until his health conditions deteriorated.
Finally, we managed to get him a medical referral from Gaza hospitals but this didn't rescue him. Egyptian authorities didn't allow him even to get into the hospital. He died on the door of the hospital as doctors and Egyptian authorities declined to treat him. " Ebrahim said while crying.
The El Ejla family is waiting for the corpse of the victim, which is still in the Egyptian territories, to arrive in Gaza. The number of siege victims therefore increased to reach 323 people.
Lack of access to medical treatment threatens Palestinian lives daily. All hospitals and clinics in Gaza report severe shortages of medicines and equipment. Stocks of basic medications are 50% low.
Medicines to treat diabetes, heart disease, asthma and other chronic diseases are not available. Access to Oncologists or dialysis is non-existent. A poignant problem given high cancer rates resulting from the Israeli army use of depleted uranium coated munitions. And sterilized supplies are short by 30%.
Diagnostic testing supplies are down by 40%, directly affecting patients’ health. Even childrens’ incubators are affected by the shortages.
Hospital equipment desperately needs spare parts and maintenance. The siege prevents supplies from being replenished. Shipments are frequently blocked or delayed at border crossings. Continued power cuts and blackouts have damaged hospital equipment and information systems.
Technorati Tags: Gaza, Israel, Palestine
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