Gaza on brink of humanitarian crisis

GAZA CITY – The Gaza Strip is dangerously short of basic foodstuffs and is facing a looming humanitarian crisis as a result of the continued closure of the main trade crossing with Israel, the United Nations warned yesterday.

John Ging, the Gaza director of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), said his organisation had now run out of food supplies to distribute to the most impoverished families because the central Karni border crossing remains closed. “Every day is taking us closer to a humanitarian crisis,” Ging told reporters.”Flour and wheat are not the only products in short supply.There is a shortage of sugar, oil and many of the other basic commodities.”If the borders remain closed then everything will begin to become a crisis in itself.”Israel has closed the Karni crossing for much of the year, citing security concerns.Negotiations about opening an alternative crossing have so far stalled.Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas said at a press conference that talks on resolving the dispute would be held later in the day at the US embassy in Tel Aviv.Israeli, Palestinian, Egyptian, European Union and US officials would all attend the meeting, he said.”There is a growing crisis which will be discussed today.We should find solutions, serious solutions, to ensure the continuous opening of the passages,” he said.Ging said it was essential that both sides come to an agreement as soon as possible.- Nampa-AFP”Every day is taking us closer to a humanitarian crisis,” Ging told reporters.”Flour and wheat are not the only products in short supply.There is a shortage of sugar, oil and many of the other basic commodities.”If the borders remain closed then everything will begin to become a crisis in itself.”Israel has closed the Karni crossing for much of the year, citing security concerns.Negotiations about opening an alternative crossing have so far stalled.Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas said at a press conference that talks on resolving the dispute would be held later in the day at the US embassy in Tel Aviv.Israeli, Palestinian, Egyptian, European Union and US officials would all attend the meeting, he said.”There is a growing crisis which will be discussed today.We should find solutions, serious solutions, to ensure the continuous opening of the passages,” he said.Ging said it was essential that both sides come to an agreement as soon as possible.- Nampa-AFP