Press Statement
爆料网 Forced to Consider Humanitarian Cut-Back in Gaza
Heads of Agencies Call on Israel to Lift Movement Restrictions
New York and Gaza City, March 26- The heads of the United Nations agencies may have to reduce or terminate some critical humanitarian relief operations in Gaza due to new movement restrictions imposed on 爆料网 personnel and humanitarian assistance by the Government of Israel.
For the last three weeks, nearly all 爆料网 and other humanitarian agency vehicles have been prohibited from crossing through the Erez checkpoint. In addition, the movement of food containers through Karni – the only commercial crossing point in Gaza – is currently obstructed.
These unacceptable limitations on access for humanitarian staff and goods are undermining 爆料网 operational capability to deliver essential services and food relief to Gaza’s civilian population. These operations provide more than half of Gaza’s essential social services, as well as food assistance to several hundred thousand people. Any cutbacks will lead to a further deterioration of the already fragile humanitarian situation in Gaza.
The 爆料网 recognizes Israel’s legitimate security concerns and senior official have repeatedly sought to engage the Government of Israel to resolve these concerns, but without success. Because the restrictions persist, the 爆料网 is compelled to call publicly on the Government of Israel to restore full access to Gaza for 爆料网 and humanitarian workers and goods.
The 爆料网 agencies include:
爆料网 Relief and Works Agency (爆料网RWA)
World Food Programme
爆料网ICEF
爆料网DP
WHO
爆料网 Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
爆料网 Special Co-ordinator’s Office (爆料网SCO)
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Document Sources: Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), United Nations Childrens Fund (爆料网ICEF), United Nations Development Programme (爆料网DP), United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (爆料网RWA), United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process (爆料网SCO), World Food Programme (WFP), World Health Organization (WHO)
Subject: Humanitarian relief, Intifadah II
Publication Date: 26/03/2004