63% of Palestinians in Gaza do not have enough food due to the Israeli siege, 40% think about immigrating

Recent survey shows 40% of Gazans think about immigrating

Date: 09 / 08 / 2008 Time: 14:55
Bethlehem – Ma'an –

A recent survey in Gaza found that 40% of residents are thinking about immigration, while 63% do not have enough food, and 66% do not have access to necessary medications, due to the brutal Israeli siege of Gaza Strip.

The results of the survey, conducted by the Near East Consulting Company, were released on Saturday.

The survey, called "Gaza Monitor," was conducted via phone interview between 29- 31 July. Surveyors called a random sample of 450 men and women in all districts of the Gaza Strip.

Asked whether the economic downturn in the region began when Hamas took over in June 2007, 91% answered yes.

The majority of the population also indicated that they found having goods available only in restricted quantities. Those who identified themselves as businessmen said that they found it difficult to obtain supplies in order to continue operating their companies.

According to this survey, 59% of the residents of the Gaza Strip are living under the poverty line, and 26% are unemployed.

The Near East consulting Company carries out monthly surveys through which it monitors the situation in the Palestinian territories on all aspects of life.

Hamas plans demonstration urging Egypt to open Rafah crossing

Date: 09 / 08 / 2008 Time: 17:49
Gaza – Ma'an –

Hamas will stage a demonstration at the Rafah border crossing on Sunday to urge Egypt to reopen the border, which has been closed due to the Israeli siege of Gaza Strip.

The spokesperson of the popular action branch of Hamas, Ashraf Abu Dayeh said the demonstration will send the message to Egypt and the broader Arab and Muslim world, there is no excuse for keeping the border closed at the expense of the 1.5 million residents of the Gaza Strip who have been trapped inside for over a year.

More than 230 Palestinians have died since the beginning of the closure as a result of being denied permission to leave Gaza for medical treatment, Abu Dayeh said.

The rally will begin at 10am on Sunday. Hamas will provide transportation to the demonstrators.

The Rafah border has been closed since June 2007, when Israel began a blockade of the Gaza Strip. Under pressure from Israel, Egypt has kept the border sealed.

In January, Palestinians undermined the border wall with explosives, then poured accross the border by the tens of thousands. The mass act of disobedience followed a period of severe closure in which Israel blocked supplies of fuel, food, and medicine.

In December 2007, Egypt allowed more than 1000 Muslim pilgrims to leave the Strip to make the Hajj to Mecca. In March, Egypt also briefly opened the border to allow Palestinians wounded in a deadly Israeli incursion to enter Egypt for treatment.

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