Letter to the Editor: The situation in Gaza
As Jewish health professionals, we are gravely concerned by the extent of
human devastation in Gaza. Almost as appalling is the lack of media
reports and the silence of our government.
According to reports from Dr. Mona El-Farra in Gaza, there are 112,000
patients in Gaza with chronic diseases who are dependent on refrigeration
for medications. The 22 hospitals are currently running
alternativeelectrical power but even that is running out because of the
total siege which is blocking fossil fuel. The lives of 250 renal dialysis
patients are threatened because the supply of dialysis solution is running
low. At least 30,000 children suffer from malnutrition and this number
will increase asdiarrhea spreads as a result of the extreme shortage of
clean water. Aswell, premature babies on life-support machines are
awaiting certain death.
This targeting of the civilian population is in total contravention of the
Geneva Accords.
All this adds up to a humanitarian disaster that is happening before our
eyes and our response is near total silence. Where are our values, our
voices, our humanitarian actions?
What will it take for the decision-makers in Canada to bring our
humanitarian instincts to this situation? It is not yet too late for
Canada
to stand up and say "We will help!" If we do not, we will have a
hand in
allowing a humanitarian disaster to unfold.
Judith Rosenthal Deutsch, M.S.W., R.S.W
Toronto, ON
Miriam Garfinkle, M.D.
Toronto, ON
