The Prisoners of Palestine Center for Studies warned on Friday of the repercussions of the weather depressions on the conditions of prisoners in the prisons of the occupation, especially prisoners in the prisons of the south, which are compounded by their suffering, with the lack of protection and heating that are not available deliberately.
The researcher "Riad al-Ashkar" media spokesman for the center in a press statement, that the weather depressions have a significant negative impact on the conditions of prisoners, as the majority of prisons are not equipped to provide protection for prisoners from cold, strong winds and heavy rain, which accompanies the depressions and lasts for days, especially prisons Located in the Negev desert, rain may seep from well-closed windows, or from cracks in the roofs of old prisons that were established decades ago.
He added that the prisoners lack enough blankets and winter clothes that the prison administration refuses to provide or even enter through parents and institutions, and has been exacerbated by the continuation of arrests and the entry of new numbers of prisoners into prisons, where they are forced to share clothes and blankets in Prisons, which cause a significant shortage of prisons, and therefore do not have enough prisoners.
He pointed out that the prisoners as a result of these harsh conditions are exposed to the many and varied diseases caused by cold and humidity, which accompany them years after the departure of winter, and the occupation deliberately does not provide them with appropriate treatment, in order to impose further abuse, and leave them vulnerable to diseases that are exhausted in their bodies weakened by poor prison conditions.
"The situation increases the risk in the depressions to the prisoners who are still in the tents, such as some sections of the Negev prison, and Ofer prison, which seeps into the rain and leads to the destruction of their clothes, blankets and food items, and does not protect the prisoners from the cold and frost, where the speed increases. The wind uproots or tears the tents, which is dangerous for the lives of the prisoners, and sometimes temperatures reach below zero.
He noted that the repercussions of the low air appear clearly in the Negev prison where it is located in the desert area, which is known for its cold in winter, and its severity is increased in the days of the low air to which the region is exposed, and the prisoners complain that they can not get out of tents and rooms for the severity of Rain, wind and cold, and in some days the water freezes in the external taps due to the extreme cold, and does not provide them with hot water enough.
He accused the prison administration of deliberately leaving prisoners in those circumstances without providing any emergency or urgent assistance to them to protect them from the effects of depressions in order to increase their suffering and multiply them, and leave them prey to the vagaries of the climate and diseases destroying their bodies to break their will, and weaken their psyche, as they refuse to provide treatments needed for them, putting their lives at risk.
Al-Ashkar reiterated his call for all international institutions, notably the Red Cross, to form committees to visit prisons and to see closely the difficult conditions of prisoners, especially in these days, and to intervene to protect them urgently from violations of occupation and the vagaries of weather conditions, which are an additional burden on them.
