Gaza's only fresh water source is now too dangerous to drink and is contaminated with fertiliser and human waste, according to a shocking new report from Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) and Save the Children.
On the fifth anniversary of the blockade, Gaza's Children; Falling Behind, reveals desperate families are being forced to buy from private sources, not knowing that in most cases this water too is contaminated, often at ten times the safe level.
With 1.7 million people - including more than 800,000 children - crammed into just 365 square kilometres - an area roughly equivalent to the size of the Isle of Wight.
"The blockade is a blight on the lives of Gaza's civilians. It is shocking to see so many children struggling to live a fulfilled and healthy life - unable to play in safe areas and forced to drink dirty and dangerous water that is making them sick," said Aimee Shalan, MAP's Director of Advocacy and Communications.
Summary
http://www.map-uk.org/regions/opt/news/view/-/id/1169/
Full Report - 32 pages
http://www.map-uk.org/files/1052_gaza_health_report_web_version.pdf
World Health Organization: Five Years of Blockade - A Political Determinant of Health in Gaza
http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Full%20Report_779.pdf
OCHA Fact Sheet: Five Years of Blockade - Humanitarian Situation in the Gaza Strip - June 2012
http://www.ochaopt.org/documents/ocha_opt_gaza_blockade_factsheet_june_2012_english.pdf
Fifty international humanitarian and human rights organizations say with one voice: end the blockade now
http://www.ochaopt.org/documents/ochaopt_50_orgnizations_statment_on_blockade_english.pdf
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