UNITED NATIONS, May 20: Appalled by the recent demolition of homes in the Rafah refugee camp in the Gaza Strip, the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday called upon Israel to respect its obligations under international humanitarian law and insisted on its obligation not to destroy homes contrary to that law.
The council voted 14 in favour, with the United States abstaining, to adopt a resolution expressing its grave concern regarding the humanitarian situation of Palestinians made homeless in the Rafah area, and calling for the provision of emergency assistance.
The decision by the United States, Israel's closest ally, to abstain reflected the Bush administration's deep displeasure at the Israeli incursion into the Gaza strip this month. The US delegation usually vetoes resolutions critical of the Jewish state.
Earlier this week, the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees reported that nearly 2,200 people had been left without shelter and 191 homes had been demolished throughout Gaza since the beginning of May.
The Security Council also called upon both parties to immediately implement their obligations under the Road Map, a plan sponsored by the UN, European Union, Russian Federation and the United States- the so-called diplomatic Quartet- that calls for a series of parallel and reciprocal steps leading to two states living side-by-side in peace by 2005.
Earlier on Wednesday, Secretary-General Kofi Annan said he had been in touch with US Secretary of State Colin Powell and US National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice, discussing the situation with them and the need to bring the situation under control.
"I also had a call from (Palestinian Authority) Chairman Yasser Arafat... appealing for assistance from the international community, and pleading with the UN and the international community to do something, and indicating that the civilians are under threat, and that this morning's attack killed many children and women," he told reporters.
Meanwhile, the UN Children's Fund (Unicef) said it was deeply concerned about the effect of the ongoing military operation in the Gaza Strip on children, particularly a missile strike on Wednesday that claimed the lives of at least 10 Palestinians, many of them youngsters.
"Palestinian children have a right to be protected against all acts of violence in the midst of the current Israeli-Palestinian conflict," said David S. Bassiouni, Unicef special representative in Jerusalem. "They have a right to a safe shelter, safe access to their schools and to health services."
With the recent military actions in Rafah and the missile strike, at least 10 children have already lost their lives, including a 16-year-old girl and 13-year-old boy shot in their home on Tuesday morning. Many additional children have been injured and all are facing psychosocial distress, Unicef said.