UNITED NATIONS, July 9: For the fourth time since Israel’s military operations in the occupied territories which has claimed dozens of innocent Palestinian lives, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Saturday issued a strong appeal for urgent action to alleviate their plight, calling on Israel to lift restrictions hampering the work of UN agencies there.

“As I have repeatedly stated, I am extremely concerned about the dangerous situation in the occupied Palestinian territory,” Mr Annan said in a statement released in Berlin.

“I am appealing for urgent action to alleviate the desperate humanitarian situation of the civilian population.”

He called attention to factors contributing to the problems plaguing Gaza.

“The Israeli air strikes on Gaza’s only power plant have had a far-reaching impact on Gaza’s hospitals, flour mills, water and sanitation systems,” he said.

“The strict controls imposed during the past weeks on the passage of basic products into Gaza, including fuel, have aggravated the difficulties of the population.”

To address shortages of basic foodstuffs, and to maintain essential health and sanitation services, Mr Annan called on Israel to restore and maintain uninterrupted supply of fuel to Gaza.