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UN:
GAZA'S ECONOMY WORSENING DUE TO BORDER RESTRICTIONS - UN: 02/8/2007
(MaximsNews.com,
U.N.)
UNITED NATIONS - / www.MaximsNews.com@
U.N./
- 02 August 2007 – The
economy of the Gaza Strip continues to deteriorate as a result of the limited
opening of border crossing points into the territory, the United Nations said
today.
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According
to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the
vast majority of import-dependent industries – notably the wood,
construction and garment sectors – have temporarily closed down.
In
addition, only 10 per cent of Gaza’s industries, those depending on
previously stored raw materials, remain partially functional.
Total
losses since the closure of the Gaza crossings in mid-June is now reaching
$23 million, OCHA says, with an average daily loss of about half a million
dollars.
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The
Office also reports that, on Sunday and Monday, 414 Palestinians who were
stranded in Egypt for 51 days returned to Gaza through the Nitzana and Erez
crossings, and additional returns to Gaza are planned in the coming days.
Drawing
attention to the situation on the ground, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stated
recently that “the continued restrictions on Gaza will have a severe
humanitarian impact and can only cause further suffering to the people there.”
Likewise,
UN humanitarian officials have warned that the restrictions are threatening the
economic sustainability of the territory, where more than 1.4 million live in a
360-square-kilometre area.
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