OCCUPIED
JERUSALEM, September 28 (IslamOnline) – In a study conducted by a
Palestinian activist, the plight of the Palestinian Woman under the
Israeli-imposed siege was underlined in various sectors health,
economic, mental, social as well as educational.
Reema
Katana, the researcher who carried out the study is also a
member of the Palestinian National Parliament, member of the board of
trustees in the General Union of the Palestinian Women and the Vice
President of the National Union for the Families of Palestinian
Martyrs.
In
her study titled “The effects of the siege on the economic status of
women”, Katana said that because many Palestinians have lost their
jobs, nearly 100 thousand workers inside Israel, there has been
increased unemployment which was already high before the second
Intifada started.
According
to a U.N. produced report, on August 29th, the rates of unemployment
in the West Banks reached 63.3 per cent and in Gaza reached 50 per
cent. Katana added that this rate includes a large percentage of
women.
In
addition, Israeli destruction of factories and the deteriorating
economical conditions led employers to let go of their employees which
include many women, especially those working in the textile, food and
medical factories.
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| A
young girl protecting another as they try to evade Israeli
gunfire |
Meanwhile,
Katana said that the Palestinian women have also suffered health
problems under the siege. She said that the Israeli checkpoints, and
barring medical staff, as well as targeting their ambulances, led 46
pregnant women to give birth on the checkpoint, a number of their
husbands were killed and 27 of their newborn babies died on the
checkpoints because they could not receive medical assistance.
Katana
added the because of the checkpoints there were also an increase in
women delivering their babies at home, nearly 29.3 per cent of all
deliveries. Family members, would receive instructions over the phone
from a doctor. Yet, she said, this has resulted in complications
including hemorrhage as well as inflammations, also due to the lack of
post-delivery medical attention.
The
extent of the deteriorating health conditions of Palestinian women
also included an increase of anemia cases among women, reaching 74.2
per cent among pregnant women aged 15 to 49 and 45.4 per cent among
non-pregnant women.
The
reason, the report said, is the great difficulty in acquiring food
because of the siege, curfew as well as the loss of income sources.
Anemia has caused early pregnancies and low weight among new born
babies.
Female
doctors and nurses have also been barred from attend
|
| Evading
the soldiers’ prying eyes |
ing
to their jobs, which led to the closure of many Mother and Child
health care centers and the destruction of their health care programs.
Many
women, suffering from cancer, kidney problems or other diseases have
also suffered from complications and some of them even died, because
they were not transferred to the hospitals to receive their periodical
treatment.
The
women’s mental health has also been a victim of the siege and
curfew, as many of them were forced with their families to stay in
small houses for long periods of time. Katana said that since the
woman carries the burden of the household on her shoulders most of the
time, and she is responsible for maintaining enough food stock for her
house as well as handling the situation in times of electricity and
water shortage. All this, she said, has a negative effect on her
mental well-being and puts her under tremendous pressure.
She
added that the Palestinian woman was accused by the international
community, at the beginning of the Intifada, of pushing her children
to get themselves killed. She was accused of not caring for the
children and yet she is locally put under the pressure of appearing
solid and strong and ready for more sacrifices.
The
home destruction policies adopted by the Israeli occupation forces
have also affected the woman psychologically, said Katana. The home is
the symbol of security and protection for the family. The alternative
is being homeless and transferring from one economic status to
another. This also has a negative affect on the women’s
psychological well being.
|
| 46
pregnant women gave birth on checkpoints |
Due
to the siege and checkpoints, many female teachers and students have
been barred from reaching their destinations and because parents are
worried about the security of their daughters, there has been an
increase in the number of drop outs among female students, the report
says.
There
is an increase in early marriages among Palestinian girls which was
already a feature of the Palestinian society but has increased due to
the number of drop outs, the report said.
However,
the social and psychological stress have also led to several divorce
cases and familial conflicts. The families of those who have been
turned by Israel into informers also suffer from what their family
members have done and mostly, it is the women who pay the price,
Katana said in her report.
Finally,
in her report, Katana said that the women activists in Palestinian
have also had their work hindered and that the constant curfew has
forced the women activists to abandon their work or to transform it to
individual efforts.
“The
Palestinian woman and her people are in a test of wills. The will of
the occupation force with its advanced war machines and the will of
resistance, challenging and solidarity as well as holding on to the
need for a fair solution,” said Katana.
