Baroness Williams calls for more support for ordinary citizens of the Gaza Strip (North East Hertfordshire Liberal Democrats)

North East Hertfordshire Liberal Democrats <bob.young@ntlworld.com>

Baroness Williams calls for more support for ordinary citizens of the Gaza Strip

February 24, 2010 11:15 AM
Originally published by East of England Liberal Democrats

In a debate in the House of Lords yesterday, Shirley Williams called for action to help those suffering in Gaza.

"Are the Government aware that more than 6,000 houses have been destroyed or very badly damaged since Operation Cast Lead, which led to the invasion of Gaza by Israel? Is he aware that those houses have been left unfinished for more than two years, meaning that thousands of Gazan families have nowhere to live? Is he also aware that raw sewage is now being poured into the Mediterranean for lack of the necessary components to repair the sewerage system, and that there is consequently an epidemic of diarrhoeal infection and anaemia among children in Gaza, who number half the population? In conclusion, do the Government believe that such a devastating blockade can go on for much longer, and what steps do they propose to take to reinforce the advice that they are trying to give, which seems singularly ineffective?"

In response, for the Government, Lord Brett commented,

"My figures tell me that 3,540 homes need reconstruction, 20,000 people have been displaced, 90 to 95 per cent of water is unfit for human consumption and 50 to 80 million litres of sewage flow into the Mediterranean each day. We are doing all we can to assist the population of Gaza. We gave £26.8 million in humanitarian aid and £21 million has been distributed to charities operating in Gaza. It is a long list, and as I am restricted to short answers I will not go through it all. Suffice to say that a major problem remains. We have a substantial sum of money that we are unable to spend because we need to get construction materials into Gaza. We continue to urge the Israeli Government - pleased as we are that there has been a slight improvement and that there has been some give - that we need a lot more give and we need it now."