46 Patients, including 10 children, died since the truce was declared

Wednesday August 27, 2008 04:39 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC News

The Palestinian Ministry of Health at the Hamas-led government in Gaza reported on Tuesday that 78 days after the truce deal came into effect in the Gaza Strip, 46 patients including 10 children, died due to the ongoing Israeli siege on the coastal region.

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The ministry said that a total of 241 patients died due to the siege which emptied all hospitals from the basic medical supplies and equipment while the patients were barred from leaving the Gaza Strip for medical treatment elsewhere.

It added that Israel is ongoing with its violations, and continues to close all border terminals which are inflicting further suffering among the residents, especially the patients.

The ministry also said that the Israel continues to violate the terms of the truce deal as it was supposed to fully open the border terminals in Gaza.

“Since the truce was declared on June 19, 46 patients, including 10 children and 14 women, have died”, the ministry said it its statement, “the health situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, the siege emptied Gaza hospital and medical centers from the basic medical supplies and equipment”.

 The ministry appealed Egypt, as the official mediator of the truce deal, the Arab League, the International Red Cross and different human right groups, to practice pressure on Israel to open all crossings and allow the patients to travel for medical treatment abroad.

It said that urgent medications and equipment are needed as more than 1500 patients are currently facing death due to the seriousness of their health conditions.

gaza strip | human rights | news report saed at imemc dot org