It was reported by the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) on Wednesday that about 350 kids in the besieged Gaza Strip who have cancer are encountering challenges with their treatment because of the Israeli blockade.
PCHR noted in a statement to commemorate Childhood Cancer Day that the journey of children with cancer in Gaza is a challenging and lengthy one, owing to the Israeli occupation‘s policies.
A warning was issued that 9,000 cancer patients in Gaza – including 350 kids – are facing “catastrophic conditions“ as a result of the persistent shortage of drugs and treatment protocols.
In the Gaza Strip, which has been subjected to an unlawful siege for nearly 16 years, food insecurity, contaminated drinking water, limited medical care, and high joblessness are all commonplace.
PCHR noted that Israel still places limits on the availability of new medical equipment and laboratory tools necessary for examining cancer patients, on top of the lack of specialized medical personnel.
The human rights group reported that, of the 1,000 permit requests from Gaza residents to travel out for medical treatment in the prior year, Israel denied 272 of them, leading to the deaths of three children.
The group appealed to the international community to urge Israeli occupation to remove impediments that obstruct cancer patients from obtaining treatment essential to their survival.
It also requested assistance from global health organizations to help improve Gaza‘s struggling healthcare system.
