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FUEL
CRISIS IN GAZA, FURTHER SHUTDOWNS LIKELY IF CROSSING REMAINS CLOSED, BY CAROLINE PATTON: 30/04/2008
(MaximsNews Network)
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UNITED
NATIONS - / MaximsNews Network / - 30
April 2008 --
For weeks now,
Gaza
has faced severe difficulties with obtaining sufficient fuel due to the ongoing
closure of many of the crossings between the area and
Israel
.
Three
weeks ago, following a Palestinian strike on the Nahal Oz fuel terminal,
Israel
shut off
Gaza
’s access to energy and it has not yet been reopened. It is the only overland
supply point for
Gaza
. A planned delivery of 100,000 litres of diesel was not made by Israel this
week and the amount of fuel is greatly depleted on the Palestinian side of the
border.
The Gaza
Petrol and Gas Station Owners Association earlier this week was to give the UN
Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East 50,000 litres of
diesel so that it could continue its aid work. This is not occur, however, due
to Palestinian protests blocking the checkpoint.
UN
spokesperson Marie Okabe revealed today,“ Without additional fuel deliveries
before Friday, the power plant could be forced to shut down this weekend.”
Passenger automobiles cannot be used because there is not enough gas and due to
the shortage of diesel, those belonging to humanitarian and aid organizations
will be out of commission. The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees
in the Near East (UNRWA) says it has insufficient fuel, jeopardizing its work.
So
critical is the situation that UNRWA says there may be no more distribution of
food may be its last without more fuel. A UN official said that, “[a]t this
crucial juncture, all parties must act to avert further suffering of the
civilian population.”
The UN
has asked for cooperation from both sides, insisting that “Hamas must
immediately bring an end to attacks by itself or any other group against
crossings in
Gaza
” and that
Israel
must “restore adequate supplies of diesel and benzene for the civilian
population of
Gaza
in accordance with international law.”
The
United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process (UNSCO) has
assured the international community that, “The United Nations is
heavily engaged with all parties to try to bring about a resolution of this
crisis and see adequate supplies of fuel restored and distributed throughout
Gaza
.”
--Caroline
Patton
Labels:
United
Nations, U.N.
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