Malnutrition rampant in the Occupied territories

international | rights, freedoms and repression | news report Friday February 06, 2004 12:44 by Ali H.

British Commons Committee calls for economic sanctions against Israel

Malnutrition rates in the Gaza Strip and parts of the West Bank
are as bad as those in sub-Saharan Africa according to the
British all-party Commons International Development Committee
reporting the results of a 6-month study which included
fact-finding trips to the occupied territories.

In previous years since the start of the second Intifada reported
rates of increases in poverty have continued to climb by in excess
of 100% annually.

They have called for European Union trade sanctions to be
imposed on Israel until it allowed the free export of goods from
the West Bank and Gaza.

Tony Baldry, the Conservative chairman of the committee, said
: "Our report is a balanced assessment of the humanitarian
situation in the occupied Palestinian territories. It shows that
Israel's security policy is having a marked impact on everyday
life.

"Israel's security measures are preventing Palestinians from
accessing services as well as inhibiting humanitarian and
development work," the MPs said. "They are destroying the
Palestinian economy and creating widespread poverty."

http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/2002/504/504p17.htm
http://www.moh3.com/annual20021/anu5.html
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/story.jsp?story=487963