09 September 2006

The worlds largest prison camp

It is the most heavily populated place on Earth.

The borders are effectively closed. The single port is closed. The airport is open but there are no flights. Businesses close as supplies are cut off and export is all but impossible.

Electricity supply is intermittent. Fresh water supplies are minimal and sewage services are at risk.

Unemployment is around 65% and most of those who have jobs haven't been paid in months. Fishermen are forbidden from leaving the shore. Most of agricultural land lies barren having been destroyed or occupied by "security forces".

The hospitals are running out of medicine and other basic supplies.

The population suffers rocket and artillery attacks almost daily.

Foreign aid has been cut off.

Welcome to the Gaza strip

The world's attention has been diverted to the invasion of Lebanon, the upsurge of violence in Afghanistan and Iraq. The silence of western governments in the face (notably the US and the UK - aka the "Axis of Anglo Saxoness) of what is, in effect, collective punishment of the Gazan population, is deafening.

Perhaps someday we will learn that our disinterest and complicity in behaviour of this sort is certainly a significant factor in what drives Arab and Muslim anger and, ultimately, leads to terrorism.

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