[Palestine] Palestinians Suffer Hunger and Poverty Due to Economic Sanctions

from KNX

Steve Marshall Reporting

GAZA STRIP (KNX) -- Hunger and poverty have descended on the West Bank where Palestinians are struggling to survive as financial curbs imposed on the Hamas-led government make it harder for families to put food on the table.

Many Palestinians are resorting to strict measures like baking their own bread.

One woman, Hind Ahmad, is a school principal who has not been paid her $450 a month salary in more than two months. She bakes bread for her family in a makeshift clay oven in her yard.

"I have to use this primitive method to save money and feed my children," she said, her face flushing red and hot as she leans down to shove dough into the flaming oven.

"Every time I bake bread, my face turns as red as a tomato, not to mention being tired from inhaling the smoke."

Because the European Union and the United States consider Hamas a terrorist organization, foreign donors as well as local and international banks are not transferring funds to financial aid to the Palestinian government. As a result, the country is left with no income with which to run the government and is currently around $1.3 billion in debt.

Israel is also withholding $55 million a month in tax revenues it collects on behalf of the Palestinians. The move is having a dire effect on the economic well-being of the West.

Bank and the Gaza Strip, home to 3.8 million people.

Ahmad says she and her family have not had meat since March, relying instead on previously purchased rice and vegetables from her backyard garden.

Across the country, rallies are being held to raise money for the Palestinian government. Even children are breaking open their piggy banks to donate money to the cause.