Structural violence in the era of a new pandemic: the case of the Gaza Strip

Abstract

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Challenges of Researchers in Conducting International Study during the Eruption of COVID-19: Student and Mentor Perspectives

“…I was saddened to discover that structural violence imposed on refugees during COVID-19 was even more dehumanizing of their already fragile conditions. The pandemic exacerbated their needs and limited their access to services, which resulted in keeping them physically isolated, socially demonized and consequently made the public panic from mortality threats more tangible [ 24 , 25 ]. Refugees were alienated and abandoned to cope with minimal governmental assistance, which left all the burden and responsibility on humanitarian organizations and their staff.…”

Pandemia: anexiones territoriales en Israel y comorbilidad en Palestina

“…Una pandemia de COVID-19 que paralice el sistema sanitario de la Franja de Gaza no debe verse como un inevitable fenómeno biomédico, equivalente al que pueda experimentar la población del resto del mundo, sino como una injusticia biosocial provocada por décadas de opresión israelí y de complicidad internacional prevenible si se hubieran garantizado los derechos sanitarios fundamentales y la autodeterminación de todos los palestinos. (Mills et al, 2020).…”

Unique situation of Gaza Strip dealing with COVID-19 crisis

“…Located on the south-eastern side of the Mediterranean Sea, and housing 2 million Palestinians in only 365 km 2 area of land, the Gaza Strip is considered to be one of the most densely populated urban areas around the world with nearly 5,479 persons per square meter ( United Nations Country Teamin, 2017 ). Being overcrowded with very limited resources alongside with being besieged for 13 years by Israel severely affects Gazans’ daily life, including economy, education, healthcare, and other aspects of lifeThe healthcare system in the Gaza Strip is already overstressed, and has significantly deteriorated through the repeated rounds of violence with Israel in 2009, 2012, and 2014 alongside other random escalations in 2018 and 2019, Great March of return, not to mention the impact of blockade, internal dividing between Palestinians, and the overall unrested situation as well as limited resources and medical supplies ( Mills et al, 2020 ). As such, the healthcare system is at huge risk with the COVID-19 outbreak emerging giving such complicated situation especially with whole world being under crisis and the extreme demand of health service and special protection measures and equipment needed to respond to such pandemic situation.…”