UNRWA says Israel impedes its humanitarian work
Palestine-Israel, Politics, 6/28/2001

General commissioner of the United Nations relief and Work Agency, Peter Hansen, criticized the Israeli army practices which hinder the humanitarian work by the United Nations and the Red Cross in the Palestinian territories.

Israel's attitude violates international laws, he told reporters citing Israelis' refusal to give free passage to UN vehicles carrying first necessity goods to Gaza, leading to a shortage in medicine, vaccinations and other emergency products.

He recalled that under the 4th Geneva convention and the Vienna convention, "we are entitled to free movement for our humanitarian staff, medicine and other supplies and we don't think that Israel respects this right."

Since the Israeli economic blockade of Palestinian territories, hundreds of thousands of Palestinian are becoming increasingly dependent on the emergency aid extended by UNRWA and Red Cross.

He went on the health of population is declining and infant mortality has reached 50% since the start of the Al Quds Intifadah last September.

Hansen explained that the UNRWA trucks are not overtly banned entry to Palestinian territories, but Israel requests that thousands of tons of goods be unloaded for inspection at the check points.

All other countries when humanitarian operations are conducted, the United Nations is trusted for its neutrality and the UNRWA has never made anything that would break this trust, he went on.

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