Matter of life and death in Gaza

Published on Saturday 29 December 2007 19:06

REGARDING the worsening situation in Gaza (International, December 16), Israel has kept Gaza's borders sealed since June, leaving more than 1.5 million people in a 140 square mile 'prison'. The sewage system has collapsed, there's no power to pump sewage out and no chemicals to clean it. Garbage is piling up in the streets and there is no fuel for the trucks to come to haul it away.

Israel is only allowing basic food supplies into Gaza: sugar, rice, flour, and under 40% of all oil supplies. There isn't stone, not even cement, to make headstones for graves. Parents can't buy nappies and you can't find jackets, wool clothes, underwear, or even socks for winter in the shops.

Medical supplies in hospitals are also exhausted. There's no oxygen; drugs aren't available. In the past few months, about 800 people have applied for emergency hospital treatment in Israel – only 114 were permitted. Ten have died for no other reason other than an accident of birth.

Israel is creating hatred in Gaza and needs to be saved from itself, while the Arab countries, Hamas, Fatah and the UN continue to blame each other.

Why on earth is our British Government not doing more?

Stuart Rivans, Hamilton