OIC report highlights plight of orphans in Gaza

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has highlighted the plight of the growing number of orphans in the Gaza Strip. The situation has been noted in the OIC’s latest monthly report as part of a monitoring process of the overall humanitarian situation in the besieged territory. There are now more than 16,000 children registered as orphans in the Gaza Strip.

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The OIC called on humanitarian organisations to provide support to ease the burden on poor families, not least the implementation of projects to distribute school uniforms and bags. This time of year is always particularly difficult for needy families and orphans, when schools return after the long summer break.

Israel’s ongoing human rights violations against the people of Gaza include killing seven people over the past month and wounding eight others in bombing raids by Israeli aircraft. The bombs also caused severe damage to several farms in Gaza.

Noting that the Israelis have only allowed a relatively few truckloads of goods to enter and leave Gaza this month, the OIC report gives details of some of the humanitarian convoys which crossed into Gaza in solidarity with the Palestinians. Around 80 per cent of the people of Gaza are dependent on aid.

The electricity crisis gripping the Gaza Strip is getting worse, reports the OIC, aggravating the already very difficult situation for residents.