April 16, 2008	Wednesday	Rabi-us-Sani 9, 1429

GAZA CITY, April 15: UN agencies called on Israel on Tuesday to restore full fuel deliveries to the Hamas-run Gaza Strip, saying that a pledge to resume supplies to the territory’s sole power station was not enough to stop a “severe impact” on civilians.

Israel halted all fuel deliveries to Gaza last Wednesday following an attack by militants on the main supply terminal in which two Israeli civilians were killed.

“UN humanitarian and development agencies working in

the occupied Palestinian territory are gravely concerned about the limited fuel supplies in the Gaza Strip which are having a severe impact upon daily life for the population and UN operations,” a statement said.

“Israel’s announcement that it will resume deliveries of fuel to the power plant is a positive step but is insufficient to address the severe shortages of fuel used for transport and generators.

“The current absence of fuel at petrol stations has meant that normal transportation has ceased, many students have been unable to get to school and many health professionals have been unable to get to hospitals and clinics.

“There have been difficulties transporting essential items such as food throughout Gaza.” The UN agencies said that even before the attack on the Nahal Oz fuel terminal the amount of fuel delivered by Israel to Gaza was “inadequate to fulfil Gaza’s requirements”.

The territory was receiving just 3.8 million litres of diesel and 340,000 litres of benzene, compared with more than 8.8 million litres and 1.7 million litres respectively a year previously.

“The Israeli restrictions prompted the Gaza Petrol and Gas Station Owners Association to suspend supply to protest at the effects of the limitations. As a result, existing stores of diesel and benzene, which are only adequate for two days’ usage, have not been distributed,” the statement added.

“The current situation is a threat to the health and well-being of the population of the Gaza Strip, 56 per cent of whom are children. The work of the UN organisations in Gaza has been severely hampered affecting schools, health facilities, and food distribution.

“UN organisations call for a cessation of all acts of violence, including attacks such as the one on Nahal Oz, and for the immediate resumption of flow and distribution of fuel supplies sufficient to allow for Palestinians to go about their normal daily lives.”

Israel has cut all but very limited deliveries of essential

supplies to Gaza since Hamas seized control of the territory last June in what it says is an attempt to pressure the Islamist movement to stop militants firing rockets into the Jewish state.—AFP