De Israelische Terreur 828

Gaza needs more aid
Mel Frykberg, The Electronic Intifada

RAMALLAH, occupied West Bank (IPS) - John Ging, head of the UN agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) in Gaza, has urged Israel to ease aid flow restrictions that are having a devastating effect on the 1.5 million inhabitants.

Ging says the amount of aid being allowed into Gaza at present is "wholly and totally inadequate. It's having a very devastating impact on the physical circumstances and also the mindset of people on the ground," Ging told IPS.

According to a report released last month by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), on average 127 aid trucks a day are entering Gaza.

OCHA stated that this was insufficient and way below the 475 that entered daily one month prior to Hamas's takeover of Gaza in June 2007.

"We need access," Ging said. "It's the number one issue. It's the number two issue. It's the number three issue, and so on. Until we get it, there's nothing as important as solving the access issue."

The UNRWA head said that all the crossings into Gaza should be opened and that the few open only on a limited basis and to certain individuals should be opened permanently to all. Israel says there is a security issue involved in opening all the crossings permanently.

OCHA says the crossings are opened on a seemingly arbitrary basis. Ging added that it was uncertain why crossings were opened at certain times and not at others.

Human rights organizations have argued that the sealing of the coastal territory is a form of collective punishment by Israel against Gaza's Hamas leadership, and that the civilian population is bearing the brunt.

Gabriela Shalev, Israel's UN ambassador, stated last month that only after the Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, captured by Hamas fighters in 2006, was released, would expansion of border openings be discussed.

At present Israel is only allowing what it considers essential humanitarian aid into Gaza. "Luxury items" such as chocolate, jam, fruit juice, toilet paper, soap, pasta, lentils and cigarettes have been barred.

"Eighty percent of the goods that are allowed in comprise food," Mike Bailey, an Oxfam spokesman told IPS. "The rest is medical and other relief supplies. However, agricultural products such as seedlings, water pipes and fertilizer essential for reviving the agricultural sector have either been denied or delayed."
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