Robert Serry: The humanitarian situation in Gaza is a priority for the UN

[ 10/07/2008 - 10:46 AM ]

BRUSSELS, (PIC)--

Robert Serry, the special coordinator for UNSCO, stated during a visit to Cairo that the situation in Gaza is a priority for the UN work due to the poor living conditions of the Gaza people, adding that the UN mission in the Strip is concentrating on improving the humanitarian conditions.

Serry said that the UN had called via the international Quartet for following a different strategy in dealing with Gaza which is experiencing the worst closure in modern history.

The UN official also pointed out that the UN is trying to convince Israel to open all crossings with Gaza for the transit of goods.

In a joint statement after a regular follow-up meeting on Monday to monitor the aid effort, Middle East peace envoy Tony Blair, French foreign minister Bernard Kouchner and EU external relations commissioner Benita Ferrero criticized Israel's checkpoints in the West Bank and the siege on Gaza as preventing an economic recovery there and limiting the impact of international aid.

In a report published by the Israeli Yediot Ahronot newspaper, an Israeli human rights organization called Yesh Din revealed Wednesday that nine out of 10 investigations into settlers' attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank end without filing any indictment against Israeli assailants.

According to the report, among 79 trespassing assaults reported to the Israeli police such as uprooting olive and fruit trees, seizing land and stealing olive sacks, they recommended filing indictment in only five of these cases.

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