25/1/2008
Gaza: EU and UN  Call for Israel to Ease Restrictions

The deteriorating situation inside Gaza because of the closed border crossings and the restrictions on the supply of fuel, food, medicine and other essential items, has provoked reactions from the EU and the UN

Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy Benita Ferrero-Waldner on the cutting of fuel supplies to Gaza:

"I condemn the rocket fire into Israel and we fully understand Israel’s need to defend its citizens. I have called for an immediate ceasefire.

I urge the Israeli authorities to restart fuel supplies and open the crossings for the passage of humanitarian and commercial supplies.

Neither the blockade nor the recent military strikes are able to prevent the rocket attacks. Only a credible political agreement this year, as foreseen at Annapolis, can turn Palestinians away from violence. That is why we must support Prime Minister Olmert and President Abbas in their current efforts."

The situation now being faced by Gaza’s estimated 1.4 million inhabitants has also sparked concern from Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour and other senior UN officials, with calls for Israel to immediately ease the restrictions.

About half of Gazan households have access to running water for only one or two hours a day, and the area’s waste water system is only partially functioning, resulting in the dumping of 30 million litres of untreated sewage into the Mediterranean Sea each day.

WFP – which has described the situation as a “serious food crisis” – has already been forced to reduce food rations to some of its recipients this week, while tensions have been rising at distribution points because of the limited availability of food.