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Guest Thinkers — January 20, 2010

Gaza Appeal

World aid agencies are appealing to Israel to unlock the Gaza strip after a Palestinian school girl Fida Hejji died of cancer while awaiting permission to go to an Israeli hospital.

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World aid agencies are appealing to Israel to unlock the Gaza strip after a Palestinian school girl Fida Hejji died of cancer while awaiting permission to go to an Israeli hospital. “Hejji, 18, was promised an entry permit three times. Three days after she died last November, her family got a call to say the hospital had set the date for her admission. One year after Israel’s offensive on Hamas-ruled Gaza, U.N. agencies and the Association for International Development Agencies (AIDA), representing over 80 NGOs, on Wednesday highlighted the health impact of the continuing blockade there. They again called on Israel to relax its tight control of the Gaza Strip’s borders to allow in a sufficient supply of essential items and access to care not available in the enclave. Max Gaylard, resident Humanitarian Coordinator for the Palestinian territories, said the blockade undermines the local health care system and puts lives at risk.”

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