Erica S Silverman

2-year blockade affects Ramadan meals in Gaza

2009-08-30

Ramadan - a festive time in many parts of the Muslim world - is bleak in Gaza.

Palestinians are struggling to find and afford traditional Ramadan foods like pickles, dates, and jam due to a more than two-year Israeli blockade of the territory.

'Iftar' is often served in the dark as the majority of Gaza's population experiences electricity cuts, affecting water and sanitation, for 6-8 hours per day, reports the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

"Basic food items such as tea, cheese, and powdered milk are not generally allowed to be imported into Gaza by the private sector, according to Israeli authorities," said OCHA officer Hamada Al-Bayari in Gaza.

Market prices in Gaza have increased dramatically over the past-two years, while unemployment has soared to 48%.


Blockade Tightens for the Summer Season

2009-07-05

The Rafah Border Crossing located along the Gaza-Egypt border, the only window to the outside world for the 1.5 million Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip, opened briefly on the 25th, 26th, and 27th of June allowing medical patients in desperate need of emergency ...

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Q&A with head of UNRWA operations in the Gaza Strip, John Ging

2009-01-18

Q.) Israeli tank-fire killed two boys at a United Nations-run school in the northern Gaza Strip on Saturday - will the UN launch an investigation to determine if this was a 'war crime?'

JG: The first rounds that were fired into our sch...

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Israeli ground forces advancing deeper into densely populated areas

2009-01-15

January 15 witnessed the most intense fighting to date, with Israeli ground forces advancing deeper into densely populated areas, particularly Gaza City with an estimated population of 500,000 people.

"The Red Cross is not managing to coordinate evacuation of wounded people. There are people rig...

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Gaza City

2008-12-30

Breadlines and streams of funeral marches are the only signs of life in Gaza. Residents are holed up in their homes fearing the next aerial bombardment from the hovering drones and Israeli firepower. 

Israel's operation 'cast lead' commenced Saturday morning and continues leveling c...

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