Despite
Border Closings,
ANERA Continues to Supply Neediest in Gaza
Gaza
at this time is almost completely cut off from critical supplies
comingthrough its borders. Reports are that conditions are worsening
everyday. As the situation grows more challenging, ANERA's long-time
support in the region continues.
As of October 29, ANERA's Gaza Strip Director, Salah Sakka, reported
that 1.7 million  fortified
wafers, enough to distribute to our beneficiary preschool children
until the end of January 2008, are in Gaza. We also have delivered,
at the end of October, 76,000 cartons of fortified milk - a five-day
supply. Additionally, ANERAhas delivered over $2 million worth
of donated medical supplies into Gaza in October.
Though it is excellent news that we have succeeded
in making these deliveries, we still face obstacles. Our partner
in providing milk shipments has indicated that although they have
met all the conditions for bringing the next shipment into Gaza,
it has been delayed at the border.
With the situation getting worse, the cost of these
political obstacles in humanitarian as well as financial terms is
impossible to calculate. It is all the more imperative that we,
in solidarity with Salah and all Gazan families, continue to chip
away at this border bureaucracy.
One thing that doesn't get held up by border bureaucracy
is direct relief through monetary aid. ANERA responds inside of
Gaza's borders, for instance, by installing sanitary landfills,
dealing with sewage spills and the lack of potable water, removing
piles of rotting garbage, and controlling rats in densely populated
areas.
As always, we are approaching this crisis from every
angle, determined to take positive steps wherever we can.
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