July 26, 2007	Thursday	Rajab 10, 1428

UNITED NATIONS: The top United Nations humanitarian official on Tuesday painted a grim scenario of the situation in occupied Gaza territory where Hamas led government is in majority saying the continued closure of crossing points continued to exacerbate the economic crisis.

Eighty per cent of employers there were already shut down and there were fears that all of Gaza’s 1.5 million residents would soon be dependent on aid, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes told a press briefing in New York.

Mr Holmes pointed out that 80 per cent of the companies in Gaza have closed. “This means that the livelihoods of the population are disappearing and, therefore, the likelihood is, if this does not change in the next few weeks and months, that the population of Gaza – one and a half million – will be dependent on humanitarian aid,” he said.

Highlighting the impact of severe droughts in several southern African countries, stressed that the situation is particularly dire in Swaziland and appealed for over $15 million to assist that country.

Contributions to the Flash Appeal launched on Wednesday, which aims “to raise funds to prevent a crisis,” will be put towards food and agricultural assistance, health and nutrition and water and sanitation needs, Mr Holmes said. Looking forward, he added that the funds will also be put towards early recovery to “protect peoples livelihoods over the difficult period to come.”