The UN's top political official on Wednesday expressed concern about the "deteriorating" humanitarian condition facing the Palestinians in Gaza, saying that planned Israeli measures could further hamper relief efforts.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza is "deteriorating alarmingly," Lynn Pascoe, the under-secretary-general for political affairs, told the UN Security Council.
In June and July, around 100 truckloads of humanitarian goods were entering Gaza daily, but that figure has shrunk to 50. In July, an average of 40 critical medical cases crossed Erez into Israel for medical treatment not available in Gaza, but that number has since dwindled to five.
Poverty levels are on the rise, food prices are increasing, and tens of thousands of workers have lost incomes, the under-secretary-general said.
"Economic activity and humanitarian operations will be seriously affected by the decision of Israel to further restrict access for West Bank residents -- including UN staff -- to East Jerusalem and the 'seam zone' between the Barrier and the green line," Pascoe said.
The announced intention to halve the number of crossing points for goods from 12 to six and the imposition of "back to back" procedures and new customs regulations "would, if implemented, significantly increase the cost of transportation of humanitarian supplies, and result in possibly unsustainable operational obstacles," he warned.
The UN is engaging the Israeli government to seek a reconsideration of the measures, he said.
Israel has closed or restricted the handful of border crossings with the Gaza Strip, home to some 1.4 million people, since Hamas gained control of the territory following deadly intra-Palestinian violence in June.
Source:Xinhua
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