Gaza fuel embargo blocks UN aid

[TriWooOx]

The United Nations says that it is being forced to suspend its humanitarian work in Gaza because of the Israeli fuel blockade.

A UN official says food aid to 650,000 refugees and the collection of sewage will have to stop on Thursday if Israel does not allow in more vehicle fuel.

The UN Security Council met to discuss the crisis, but Western representatives walked out over comments from Libya.

They objected to the Libyan delegate likening Gaza to a Nazi death camp.

Among the diplomats to leave the UN chamber in New York were representatives of the United States, Britain, France and Belgium.

The remarks comparing the situation in Gaza to the Nazi Holocaust of World War II were made by the Libyan ambassador to the UN, Giadalla Ettalhi.

"A number of Council members were dismayed by the approach taken by Libya and do not believe that such language helps advance the peace process," British official Karen Pierce said of the rare protest.

Libya is sponsoring a draft statement expressing concern at the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

Power plant

In Gaza itself, the UN relief agency UNWRA has warned that its fuel supplies, needed for vehicles, will have run out by Thursday.

"Unless petrol is allowed in, UNRWA will discontinue its food assistance to 650,000 refugees, as well as its garbage collection services, which benefit half-a-million Gazans," UN Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Angela Kane told the Security Council.

"Another 500,000 Gazans are already living in 12 municipalities without any solid waste management capacity - largely due to the lack of fuel," she added.

However, Israel has allowed fuel to be delivered to the Gaza Strip's main power plant, averting the possibility that it would be forced to shut down imminently.

Palestinian officials had warned it would run out of fuel on Wednesday, plunging large areas into darkness.

The temporary resumption of deliveries followed mediation by the European Union, which pays for the fuel.

'Dire situation'

The UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, has said the humanitarian situation in the territory is increasingly dire and called the cutting of fuel supplies punitive and unacceptable.

Israel's policy of limiting fuel supplies is part of an attempt to force the Islamist movement, Hamas, which controls Gaza, to stop rocket fire into Israel. Rocket fire has dropped off recently but not ceased.

Fuel supplies have been more sporadic than usual recently due to attacks by militants on the Nahal Oz depot through which they pass.

About 120 megawatts out of the 200 megawatts of electricity used annually in Gaza are bought from and supplied by Israel directly.

A further 17 megawatts are supplied by Egypt, while 65 megawatts are produced by a power station in Gaza.

The last Israeli shipment of diesel and cooking oil to Gaza took place a week ago.  

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle ... 364172.stm

[mastermg]

Thanks for the update. I think its time for people to do something about this.