UN Agency Suspends Gaza Relief Operations
By Margaret Besheer
United Nations
13 January 2009
The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees says it is suspending food delivery operations in the Gaza Strip after Israeli strikes killed two of its Palestinian staffers and injured another.
U.N. officials say the casualties occurred when a U.N.-contracted aid convoy was hit by Israeli fire. Officials said the movement of the convoy had been coordinated in advance with the Israeli military.
Two days ago several U.N.-run schools were also hit by Israeli fire. At least 40 people taking shelter at one of the schools were killed.
Speaking to reporters in New York via video link from Gaza, UNRWA Director John Ging said these and other incidents have forced his agency to suspend its operations until it can get credible assurances from the Israeli military that its staff will be safe.
"We have lost confidence in the mechanism that is there. We are perfectly prepared to take the reasonable risks, as I say, in this conflict zone. But something has to change with regard to our being able to rely on the liaison that we do with the Israeli military. If they give us the clearance to move, then it is wholly and totally unacceptable that their soldiers on the ground are firing at our aid workers," he said.
Since the conflict began 13 days ago, four UNRWA local staff members have been killed.
U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon condemned the Israeli Defense Forces for the firing and called again for an immediate cease-fire.
The U.N. agency regularly feeds 750,000 Palestinians in Gaza and the suspension of its operations will further complicate the worsening humanitarian situation there.
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