Poverty in Gaza

You know things are bad when the Jerusalem Post reports that malnutrition is common place in the Gaza Strip:

About 10 percent of Palestinian children suffer permanent effects from malnutrition, according to a survey published Wednesday, a result of widespread poverty in the West Bank and Gaza.

The root cause is poverty, according to Khaled Abu Khaled, who directed the study for the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics. He said the numbers are up slightly over the past two years.

According to the Palestinian Central Bureau for Statistics, since 2005, 50.1% of children in Gaza live in poverty. 13.2% suffer from stunted growth. Meanwhile, the international embargo of the Palestinian Authority continues and Israel and warring Palestinian political factions continue to murder civilians.

UPDATE: According to the BBC, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has given assurances that BBC journalist Alan Johnston, who was kinapped a month ago, is alive. There's a good commentary on the kidnap from The Guardian's Rory McCarthy.