Region | Palestinian Territories
UN agency warns against Gaza blockade
Israeli authorities ought to provide a "clear procedure" for the entry of humanitarian aid to Gaza, after the repeated closures of the coastal strip and the recurring United Nations (UN) warnings against suspension of food deliveries to half of improvised Gaza's population, a UN spokesperson cautioned yesterday.
- By Jumana Al Tamim, Associate Editor
- Published: 23:54 November 13, 2008
- Palestinians wait to receive their monthly supplies of flour at a United Nations food aid distribution centre at the Shati refugee camp in Gaza City on Wednesday.
- Image Credit: AP
Dubai: Israeli authorities ought to provide a "clear procedure" for the entry of humanitarian aid to Gaza, after the repeated closures of the coastal strip and the recurring United Nations (UN) warnings against suspension of food deliveries to half of improvised Gaza's population, a UN spokesperson cautioned yesterday.
"As a UN agency," Sami Mush'sha', spokesperson for the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in occupied Jerusalem, said, "we need to have a clear and standard guideline [from Israel] for the entry of humanitarian goods to Gaza."
Mush'sha' complained to Gulf News that Israel lacks consistency in its policy towards humanitarian aid, which has frustrated not only the people, but those who work to deliver vital aid to the impoverished territory.
Israel initially announced yesterday that 30 truckloads of emergency food, medicine and other humanitarian supplies would be allowed into the besieged strip.
However, Israeli officials later said the borders will not be opened.
"The border crossings will not be opened today [Thursday], despite our plans, due to the continued rocket fire and security threats at the crossings," said the Israeli Defence Ministry spokesman, Peter Lerner.
Shipments held
Israel also held up shipments of European Union-funded fuel to the territory's sole power plant. Palestinian officials said the facility would be shut down later yesterday.
Israel sealed off the Gaza Strip, which is under the control of Hamas, on November 5, following a flare-up in violence. Israel completely shut down the crossing points and stopped fuel, food and other basic supplies into Gaza.
The violence has intensified in the past few days after fighters in Gaza fired a dozen mortar rounds at Southern Israel on Wednesday evening and Israel launched two air strikes over the strip.
A day earlier, four people identified as Hamas members were killed in clashes with Israeli troops.
The Israeli response to attacks from Gaza comes generally by closing crossing points, cutting off the already limited fuel and humanitarian supplies it allows into the territory.
Israel has already imposed a blockade on Gaza after Hamas seized power in the area in June last year.
The UNRWA had warned earlier this week that it would have to suspend its food distribution to 750,000 people - half of Gaza's population - starting yesterday evening, if supplies were not allowed allowed to pass through. It said its warehouses in Gaza looked almost empty.
An AP report on Wednesday afternoon quoted the supervisor of the centre in the Shati refugee camp, next to Gaza City, as saying it had no meat for lunch for just over a week, had enough oil for only two days and would run out of milk the next day.
"With meat [shortage], people can accept it, but when it's milk, it's much harder," he said.
"If there's no food there will be a disaster for people here," said Adil Adwalla, 35, a construction worker who lives nearby.
Adwalla's situation seems similar to many others in Gaza. He cannot find work because he says the blockade has made building materials scarce.
That makes food aid even more important for his wife and their six children.
"There are 750,000 people who totally depend on UNRWA's aid," Mush'sha' said.
There are also tens of thousands of people who are not registered with UNRWA in Gaza, and depend on the UN World Food Programme (WFP) aid.
Responding to rocket firings by closing Gaza and stopping aid trucks from entering the strip is a "collective punishment to civilians, UN and UNRWA," Musha'sha' said.
Responsibility
"Israel, as an occupier, according to International law, bears the responsibility of not only security to its people, but also the responsibility of securing the basic humanitarian and vital services to those who live under the occupation," the UNRWA spokesperson explained.
UN officials have repeatedly warned against the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza strip, which some describe as a "big prison".
Israel is to be blamed for the tragic situation in Gaza, they added.
"When you don't have food aid, the number of deaths increase and you'll have more children suffering from malnutrition and the physiological pressures go up among the people" said Musha'sha'.
"This will lead to public explosion in the future," he warned.
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