Der Pöstler ist wieder mal vorbeigekommen, der mit den Nachrichten in Sachen humanitärem Völkerrecht. Das Internationale Komitee vom Roten Kreuz IKRK legte seinen Operational update über Israel und die besetzten Gebiete vor -- Pflichtlektüre für alle, die mitreden wollen in Sachen Besatzung. 

 

 

Gaza - Blockade:

 

"In Gaza, the blockade imposed nearly three years ago continued to severely hinder transfers into the Strip of essential medical equipment, thus putting at risk the immediate treatment and long-term health of thousands of patients. Many essential drugs and disposable medical items were unavailable owing to a lack of cooperation between the Palestinian health ministries in Ramallah and Gaza. Moreover, reserves of industrial fuel continued to dry up, resulting in electricity being available only 60 per cent of the time. Power cuts were unpredictable and frequent, and jeopardized the proper functioning of hospitals. All of these factors contributed to a worrisome pattern of declining health-care services."

 

Siedler - Gewalt:

 

"Fear of settler violence continued to keep many Palestinian farmers away from their land, particularly in areas near Israeli settlements. The ICRC documented several cases of destruction of Palestinian property, in particular olive trees.

For decades, restrictions linked to Israeli settlements in the West Bank have resulted in Palestinian farmers losing land and income. The settlements are illegal under international humanitarian law. Despite recent improvements in the economic situation, an estimated 50 per cent of the West Bank population was living in poverty in early 2010.

The ongoing and long-term incapacity to build and develop, and to cultivate the land, continued to have a severe impact on the lives of many Palestinians in the occupied West Bank."

 

 

Flüchtlinge und Gefangene:

 

"The ICRC also visited 2,500 foreigners, mostly from Sub-Saharan Africa, held by Israel in camps for migrants in the Negev desert. "The number of migrants registered by the ICRC in Israeli prisons has increased by 70 per cent over the past year. Many of them face long periods in detention because they do not have the documents required to prove their nationalities," explained ICRC delegate Olivier Chow. "We do our utmost to help them in any way we can, in particular to obtain the documents they need to return home if they wish."

The ICRC has again lodged a request at the highest level of Hamas for the exchange of Red Cross messages to be allowed between captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit and his family, who have not had direct contact with him since he was captured in June 2006. Both this request and requests to visit Mr Shalit have been repeatedly turned down."

 

 

Medikamente und Politik:

 

"A lack of coordination between the health ministries in Ramallah and Gaza, coupled with complex and lengthy Israeli procedures for transferring goods into Gaza, severely limited the supply of medicine and disposables such as colostomy bags. Stocks of 110 essential drugs and supplies have been exhausted and can no longer be found in Gaza hospitals. In its regular deliveries of supplies to the hospitals, the ICRC has endeavoured to meet the most urgent needs, for example by providing skin disinfectant and fluorescent dye used in ophthalmologic examination."