Red Cross says no humanitarian crisis in Gaza

2011-04-21 04:45:29 GMT+7 (ICT)

GAZA (BNO NEWS) -- The Red Cross in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday said that there is no humanitarian crisis in Gaza despite problems such as daily rocket fire and the blockade in the region.

"There is no humanitarian crisis in Gaza," said Mathilde Redmatn, deputy director of the Red Cross in Gaza. "If you go to the supermarket, there are products. There are restaurants and a nice beach. The problem is mainly in maintenance of infrastructure and in access to goods."

Redmatn added that despite the problems the city endures a "surprising normalcy" but remarked that the rocket attacks from both sides of the Gaza Strip are a violation of international law.

"Rocket fire from the Gaza Strip is against international law because it is directed at civilians," The Red Cross deputy director said. "We conduct dialogue with Hamas on the matter."

The Red Cross official also said that blockade on Gaza Strip severely affects the proper delivery of all the needed humanitarian assistance in the region. Most of the infrastructures cannot be improved due to the closure.

"We are mainly engaged in the areas of water and sanitation. We are talking about a highly dense population. Most of the infrastructure cannot be improved due to the closure so we try to improve the situation with existing tools," the director said.

The Red Cross in the Gaza Strip began operations in 1967. The organization works on an ongoing basis with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) as the situation in the region requires it.

"We are documenting human rights violations according to international law and we speak with relevant parties on how to take care of the issue," Redmatn added. "We are talking about captives, soldiers, wounded people, and in fact anyone defined by the Geneva Convention."

The Red Cross played a role in the Gaza flotilla incident in May 2010. The deadly raid resulted in the death of nine Turkish activists, causing global outrage for what some said was unnecessary violence. A United Nations Human Rights Council mission ruled in September that Israel used "totally unnecessary violence" and an "unacceptable level of brutality.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-04-21

"There is no humanitarian crisis in Gaza," said Mathilde Redmatn, deputy director of the Red Cross in Gaza. "If you go to the supermarket, there are products. There are restaurants and a nice beach. The problem is mainly in maintenance of infrastructure and in access to goods."

Redmatn added that despite the problems the city endures a "surprising normalcy" but remarked that the rocket attacks from both sides of the Gaza Strip are a violation of international law.

"Rocket fire from the Gaza Strip is against international law because it is directed at civilians," The Red Cross deputy director said. "We conduct dialogue with Hamas on the matter."

Huh, no humanitarian crisis? I guess obesity doesn't count then. I guess those evil Zionist propaganda videos were telling the truth then. Just a shame about the deliberate illegal rocket fire by Hamas - without it there would be no need for a blockade and the 'nice beach' could become a place for tourists to visit. :jap:

The best bit is the phrase 'surprising normalcy' - Well yes surprising if you ever believed for a minute all the lies spouted by the Arab world's propaganda machine which was eagerly and uncritically lapped up by much of the western press.

Edited April 20, 201115 yr by Steely Dan

It now then raises the issue for the need of flotilla and what is really on? it for the participants not wanting it to be inspected by the IDF.

PS. Israel has been saying it all along, that there is no crisis and Israel allows through 15 tons of supplies, provides water and other necessities. All Israel is asking is to stop rockets and stop smuggling weapons to make more rockets

The best bit is the phrase 'surprising normalcy' - Well yes surprising if you ever believed for a minute all the lies spouted by the Arab world's propaganda machine which was eagerly and uncritically lapped up by much of the western press.

Some folks are always in a hurry to believe "The Big Lie".

Redmatn added that despite the problems the city endures a "surprising normalcy" but remarked that the rocket attacks from both sides of the Gaza Strip are a violation of international law.

"Rocket fire from the Gaza Strip is against international law because it is directed at civilians," The Red Cross deputy director said. "We conduct dialogue with Hamas on the matter."

It now then raises the issue for the need of flotilla and what is really on? it for the participants not wanting it to be inspected by the IDF.

The aim of the flotilla is simply to have ships stopped and searched, just as the aim of the missiles is to keep the borders sealed, how else can you argue Israel is an 'apartheid' state and use this lie to campaign for a boycott of Israeli products or institutions.

...how else can you argue Israel is an 'apartheid' state and use this lie to campaign for a boycott of Israeli products or institutions.

For some types, any sorry excuse will do.

This topic is about: Red Cross says no humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Off topic posts and replies have been removed.

I did a quick search for Red cross Gaza and chanced upon this advert, from (ahem) greatergood.org

http://greatergood.org/gtgm-CrisisGaza-35352.html?gclid=CPTqmtnVrKgCFQd76wod_BbfHg

The humanitarian situation for civilians in the Gaza Strip is still grim as a result of weeks of fighting. Food, water and fuel are all in short supply.

Apparently you can donate through 'The hunger site', which is their partner site. Perhaps this should be re-badged the hunger and obesity site if they are going to lump Gaza in with places where there actually is hunger, or indeed a humanitarian crisis, such as there is in much of the middle east.

Quick edit to show pictures of the non crisis just so liberal lefties can see where their money is going, apart from on weapons smuggling of course.

Edited April 21, 201115 yr by Steely Dan

The Red Cross announcement comes at a time when donor nations are fed up with the games being played with aid and have expressed their views in very clear terms to the aid groups. The point of the announcement is to prevent future violent confrontations when unauthorized "aid" convoys are launched. The Red Cross and its aid group allies want the aid to continue to be channeled through their facilities to ensure that the aid gets to people. The "aid" convoys detract from legitimate aid efforts and put the lives of all aid workers at risk and interfere with the necessary generous donations from western nations that provide most of the aid funding to Gaza.

High on the wish list for the Red Cross is building material. Unfortunately, such material when delivered, is seized by the local government and diverted away from approved aid projects.