Region | Palestinian Territories
UN officials say crisis will add to food shortages in Gaza
Half a million chickens in Gaza must be slaughtered because of exposure to bird flu, which will add to the problem of food shortages in the impoverished coastal strip, said a UN official.
- AP
- Published: 23:32 May 3, 2009
Jerusalem: Half a million chickens in Gaza must be slaughtered because of exposure to bird flu, which will add to the problem of food shortages in the impoverished coastal strip, United Nations officials said yesterday.
Bird flu has been discovered at five poultry farming locations in Gaza since the virus was detected in the area on March 22. A quarter of a million chickens have been culled, and another 250,000 are due to be exterminated shortly. The exposed birds account for 20 per cent of the poultry industry in Gaza.
At a joint news conference, UN officials warned that bird flu will have a devastating effect on Gaza's already weak economy. Ambrogio Manenti of the World Health Organisation estimated that at least 200,000 people will be affected by a loss in income.
"Since poultry is the primary source of protein for people in Gaza, we are also very concerned about the nutritional consequences," said Luigi Damiani of the UN Food and Agricultural Organisation.
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