Humanitarian crisis looms over Gaza Strip, UN relief agency warns

A humanitarian crisis is looming over the Gaza Strip, where the Israeli authorities continue blocking the entry of food, medicines and fuel, while restricting the movement of all goods and personnel, the lead United Nations relief agency in the Middle East warned Thursday.

The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refuges in the Near East (UNRWA), which has lodged a number of protests with Israel in recent weeks, acknowledged the efforts of the local Israeli liaison officers, but said there has been scant improvement in the situation.

"Life is already hard enough for those desperately poor refugees who rely on UNRWA to provide them with nutritional security," said the Director of UNRWA Operations, Lionel Brisson. "Now, not only their food supplies, but also their fresh water, waste removal and medicines are under threat - all of which could have calamitous consequences for public health."

Because of the restrictions, UNRWA's latest emergency food distribution is in jeopardy. The Agency said that without permission to transport aid, some 600,000 needy people will not get the food package planned for this month. Fuel and building materials are also in short supply.

Faced with diminishing supplies and the fear of a major Israeli incursion, the largely impoverished residents of Gaza have begun to stockpile basic foodstuffs and medicines, pushing prices up further and compounding feelings of despair, according to the Agency.

The southern area of the Gaza Strip is now virtually cut off from all specialist health services, depriving over 3,000 patients of care, UNRWA said. The provision of even basic medical services has been very difficult in areas such as Al Mawasi, where on Wednesday, despite prior coordination with the Israeli Army, a health team was refused access after being made to wait for over three hours at a checkpoint in the area.