UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon on Friday called for every effort to be made to open all crossings into Gaza for the passage of humanitarian supplies and workers, as well as commercial goods.
"In particular, he calls for the Karni Crossing to be opened immediately for the passage of commercial imports and exports," said a statement issued by Ban's press office.
"In addition, the secretary-general calls for the opening of the Rafah Crossing to allow into Gaza more than four thousand Palestinians stranded in Egypt," it said.
The UN chief said the continued restrictions on Gaza will have a severe humanitarian impact and can only cause further suffering to the people there.
"The secretary-general is increasingly concerned about the situation in the Gaza Strip and its impact on the economic life," the statement said.
The statement cited figures released by the World Bank which show that in the last month alone 3,190 businesses have closed down forcing over 65,000 people into unemployment.
"If what is left of Gaza's economy is allowed to collapse, poverty levels, already affecting an estimated two thirds of households, will rise further and the people of Gaza will become near totally aid dependent," it added.
Israel has closed or restricted the handful of border crossings with the Gaza Strip since deadly intra-Palestinian violence -- which has since subsided -- erupted early last month. Some 1.4 million people live within Gaza's 360-square-km area.
Source: Xinhua
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