The Humanitarian Monitor | April 2009

The basic right of many Palestinians to human dignity continued to be undermined during April. In the West Bank, over 100 Palestinians, including many children, were displaced, hundreds of Palestinian homes were raided and searched by the Israeli army, and there was a 40% increase in the number of Palestinian injuries, compared to the 2008 monthly average. In the Gaza Strip, the 22-month blockade continues to affect all aspects of life. No benzene or diesel has been allowed for five months and cooking gas continued to be rationed. Moreover, hundreds of Palestinians from Gaza with acute medical problems were unable to obtain the needed care, due to the blockade and the political dispute between the Hamas authorities in Gaza and the PA in Ramallah. While the dispute was resolved at the end of the month, only 90 patients crossed Erez during April, compared to 325 in March.