Gaza Government Warns of Humanitarian Disaster Due to Egyptian Closure of Rafah Crossing

[ 01/08/2013 - 03:54 PM ]

GAZA, (PIC)--


Palestinian government cabinet in Gaza issues a warning of a humanitarian disaster due to the Egyptian closure of Rafah crossing and the Israeli siege of Gaza Strip, August 1, 2013

The Palestinian government in Gaza has warned of humanitarian disaster in the besieged enclave in the event the Egyptian authorities continued to close the Rafah border crossing.

The ministry of foreign affairs said in a message sent Thursday on behalf of the government to regional and international organizations, human rights groups, and political and notable figures that the health and municipal sectors would be the most affected.

The ministry appealed to all parties concerned with the Rafah terminal to work for its reopening to allow normal flow of traffic of people and goods.

It pointed out that the allocated truckloads of fuel for the Gaza power station were not enough to operate the station in full, adding that power was being cut off for ten hours daily as a result.

The ministry said that all Gaza crossings should operate normally and pressures should be exerted on Israel to end its seven-year-old “oppressive” blockade.

The ministry said that the Egyptian authorities’ closure of the Rafah terminal on 5th July and its partial reopening few days later led to grave deterioration in the inhabitants’ living conditions.

It said that the Rafah crossing was the only outlet for Gaza people with the outside world, adding that Egypt slashed its operating hours from nine to only four per day.

It said that Egypt allows only 150 persons to leave the Strip daily and they should be holders of Arab or foreign passports or very ill persons.

The ministry charged that the measure was a clear violation of the internationally guaranteed freedom of movement.

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