Afternoon Update on Gaza – ACT Forum Palestine–January 26, 2009

Afternoon Update on Gaza – ACT Forum Palestine–January 26, 2009

ACT Forum Palestine–Afternoon Update on Gaza
Monday, 26 January, 2009

The 150,000 bottles of drinking water purchased by some members of ACT are still awaiting authorization to leave Jericho and head towards Gaza. It is expected that any day soon the permit will be authorized and the water will be on its way. Our International Communications Officer, Mika Hentunen of FCA, will be trying to enter into Gaza tomorrow. There are reports that the Israelis are allowing reporters and foreign workers in without prior coordination.  There are worries that the psychological effect the war has brought will have a lasting impact on children and young adults. From reading various reports and commentaries, if there is no proper and extensive psycho-social intervention there is a fear for the mental health of those affected and also their choices in life at a later stage. According to sources from WFP, the mental assistance is a top priority at this stage. In other developments, Egypt has been receiving large numbers of wounded Palestinians. According to the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), The Egyptian Hospitals have received around 758 Palestinians through the Rafah crossing, along with 672 family members since the beginning of the Israeli attacks on Gaza on Dec. 27th last year. The Egyptian Ministry of Health said in a press release Sunday that the current number of injured Palestinians at the Egyptian hospitals has reached 636, of which 570 are under treatment, while 66 have been discharged. The ministry mentioned that there were 95 patients who were treated abroad such as in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Libya, Morocco, Turkey, and Belgium, whereas some died of their injuries in Egypt and were lated burried. Injuries ranged from burns, amputations, comas and multiple fractures.  It is reported that Hamas has reopened its offices in Gaza, although most of its offices have been bombed by Israel. According to a report coming out of Voice of America (VOA), Hamas officials have placed tables on the rubble of their destroyed buildings or are working from their cars. Hamas is planning to distribute a sum of $52 million in aid to Palestinians who have lost loved ones or whose homes have been destroyed during the war.