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Persbericht
Den Haag, 13 december 2007
Internationale Rode Kruis roept op tot politieke actie voor bevolking Palestijnse gebieden
De bevolking in de bezette Palestijnse gebieden staan aan de vooravond van een humanitaire crisis als gevolg van de snel verslechterde situatie. Het Internationale Rode Kruis maakt zich vooral zorgen over de zeer strenge beperkingen die de bevolking zijn opgelegd waardoor het vrij verplaatsen in het gebied is geminimaliseerd, met alle gevolgen van dien voor de sociale en economische omstandigheden.
Hieronder volgt het Engelstalige persbericht
Occupied Palestinian territories: ICRC calls for immediate political action to contain deep crisis
"The measures imposed by Israel come at an enormous humanitarian cost, leaving the people living under occupation with just enough to survive, but not enough to live a normal and dignified life," said Béatrice Mégevand Roggo, the ICRC's head of operations for the Middle East and North Africa. "The Palestinian people are paying an exceedingly high price for the continuing hostilities between Israel and Palestinian factions. Their situation is made even more difficult by intra-Palestinian rivalries. The Palestinian population has effectively become a hostage to the conflict."
The situation in the Gaza Strip is alarming. The Strip has been progressively sealed off since June: imports are restricted to the bare minimum and essential infrastructure, including medical facilities and water and sanitation systems, is in an increasingly fragile state. Substantial cuts in fuel supplies further add to the hardship experienced by the population. In the West Bank, stringent restrictions on the movement of people continue to severely hamper the economic and social life of the Palestinian population.
"Israel's right to address its legitimate security concerns must be balanced against the Palestinians' right to live a normal and dignified life," said Ms Mégevand Roggo. "In the current situation, humanitarian assistance alone is insufficient. It cannot and should not be a substitute for political action."
Ahead of the conference of major donors due to take place early next week in Paris, the ICRC therefore appeals for immediate political steps to be taken to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the West Bank. Moreover, it calls on Israel to respect its obligations under international humanitarian law, to ease restrictions on movement in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank and to lift the retaliatory measures that are paralysing life in Gaza. The ICRC also calls on the Palestinian factions to stop targeting civilian areas and endangering the lives of civilians.
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