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| Fuel crisis threatens UN Gaza aid | |
| (41 minutes later) | |
| The United Nations has said it will have to suspend humanitarian work in the Gaza Strip within hours unless it receives fresh fuel supplies. | |
| Assistant Secretary General Angela Kane said the distribution of food aid to 650,000 refugees and the collection of rubbish from 500,000 would cease. | |
| Israeli sanctions imposed in an attempt to force the Palestinian group Hamas to stop rocket fire have caused shortages. | Israeli sanctions imposed in an attempt to force the Palestinian group Hamas to stop rocket fire have caused shortages. |
| But Israel says Hamas is deliberately preventing fuel from entering. | But Israel says Hamas is deliberately preventing fuel from entering. |
| It says there are a million litres of fuel at a border terminal. | It says there are a million litres of fuel at a border terminal. |
| Supplies 'exhausted' | Supplies 'exhausted' |
| In a briefing to the Security Council, Ms Kane said Gaza had suffered "heightened humanitarian distress" caused by closed border crossings with Israel and Egypt, the shortage of basic food and commodities, poor water supplies and sanitation. | In a briefing to the Security Council, Ms Kane said Gaza had suffered "heightened humanitarian distress" caused by closed border crossings with Israel and Egypt, the shortage of basic food and commodities, poor water supplies and sanitation. |
| The terrorist regime in Gaza is deliberately attacking the crossings that supply the Gaza people with these important supplies Mark RegevIsraeli government spokesman More than 80% of Gaza's population rely on humanitarian assistance, with UN food aid going to about 1.1 million people. A high proportion of them are children. | The terrorist regime in Gaza is deliberately attacking the crossings that supply the Gaza people with these important supplies Mark RegevIsraeli government spokesman More than 80% of Gaza's population rely on humanitarian assistance, with UN food aid going to about 1.1 million people. A high proportion of them are children. |
| But Ms Kane warned that such assistance was now at risk of suspension because of the restrictions on vehicle fuel deliveries, which were tightened by Israel after Palestinian militants attacked the Nahal Oz fuel terminal earlier this month. | But Ms Kane warned that such assistance was now at risk of suspension because of the restrictions on vehicle fuel deliveries, which were tightened by Israel after Palestinian militants attacked the Nahal Oz fuel terminal earlier this month. |
| There have been no deliveries of petrol since 18 March and no deliveries of ordinary diesel since 2 April, according to UN officials. | There have been no deliveries of petrol since 18 March and no deliveries of ordinary diesel since 2 April, according to UN officials. |
| "[The UN relief agency] Unrwa's fuel supplies will be exhausted on 24 April, and in an effort to save fuel, Unrwa has prioritised food distribution, solid waste removal, and sewage projects," she told the Security Council on Wednesday. | "[The UN relief agency] Unrwa's fuel supplies will be exhausted on 24 April, and in an effort to save fuel, Unrwa has prioritised food distribution, solid waste removal, and sewage projects," she told the Security Council on Wednesday. |
| "Unless petrol is allowed in, Unrwa will discontinue its food assistance to 650,000 refugees, as well as its garbage collection services, which benefit half a million Gazans," she added. | "Unless petrol is allowed in, Unrwa will discontinue its food assistance to 650,000 refugees, as well as its garbage collection services, which benefit half a million Gazans," she added. |
| "Another 500,000 Gazans are already living in 12 municipalities without any solid waste management capacity - largely due to the lack of fuel." | "Another 500,000 Gazans are already living in 12 municipalities without any solid waste management capacity - largely due to the lack of fuel." |
| Hospitals and clinics will also run out of fuel within a week, she warned. | Hospitals and clinics will also run out of fuel within a week, she warned. |
| Strike | Strike |
| The fuel shortages have been compounded since 7 April by a strike by Gaza's fuel distributors and petrol station owners, who have been refusing to pick up about 1 million litres that Israel has pumped into the Nahal Oz fuel terminal, saying the quantity is insufficient. | The fuel shortages have been compounded since 7 April by a strike by Gaza's fuel distributors and petrol station owners, who have been refusing to pick up about 1 million litres that Israel has pumped into the Nahal Oz fuel terminal, saying the quantity is insufficient. |
| Talks fail to hearten GazansGaza's humanitarian crisis | Talks fail to hearten GazansGaza's humanitarian crisis |
| The boycott has not affected industrial diesel supplies to Gaza's main power station, which was within hours of shutting down on Wednesday morning until Israel agreed to allow deliver 1 million litres - enough to generate electricity for three days. | The boycott has not affected industrial diesel supplies to Gaza's main power station, which was within hours of shutting down on Wednesday morning until Israel agreed to allow deliver 1 million litres - enough to generate electricity for three days. |
| A spokesman for the Israeli government, Mark Regev, told the BBC that it was Hamas that was causing the fuel and humanitarian problems, not Israel. | A spokesman for the Israeli government, Mark Regev, told the BBC that it was Hamas that was causing the fuel and humanitarian problems, not Israel. |
| "You have a situation where the Hamas regime in Gaza is deliberately holding up supplies for its own political reasons, which are difficult to understand," he said. | "You have a situation where the Hamas regime in Gaza is deliberately holding up supplies for its own political reasons, which are difficult to understand," he said. |
| "But the truth is there's a very consistent pattern here. The oil terminal itself was deliberately targeted by Hamas just a few days ago, that was the second attack in that vicinity in a very short period of time," he added. | "But the truth is there's a very consistent pattern here. The oil terminal itself was deliberately targeted by Hamas just a few days ago, that was the second attack in that vicinity in a very short period of time," he added. |
| "The terrorist regime in Gaza is deliberately attacking the crossings that supply the Gaza people with these important supplies." | "The terrorist regime in Gaza is deliberately attacking the crossings that supply the Gaza people with these important supplies." |
| On a visit to Gaza on Wednesday, the UN special envoy Robert Serry, condemned the militant attacks, but also described Israel's policies "collective punishment". | On a visit to Gaza on Wednesday, the UN special envoy Robert Serry, condemned the militant attacks, but also described Israel's policies "collective punishment". |
| A UN Security Council meeting ended shortly after Ms Kane's statement, when Western representatives walked out in protest at comments made by the Libyan representative, Giadalla Ettalhi, who likened Gaza to a Nazi death camp. | A UN Security Council meeting ended shortly after Ms Kane's statement, when Western representatives walked out in protest at comments made by the Libyan representative, Giadalla Ettalhi, who likened Gaza to a Nazi death camp. |
| Mr Ettalhi made the remark during a discussion on a draft statement expressing concern at the humanitarian situation in the coastal territory. | Mr Ettalhi made the remark during a discussion on a draft statement expressing concern at the humanitarian situation in the coastal territory. |
| "A number of Council members were dismayed by the approach taken by Libya and do not believe that such language helps advance the peace process," British official Karen Pierce said of the rare protest. | "A number of Council members were dismayed by the approach taken by Libya and do not believe that such language helps advance the peace process," British official Karen Pierce said of the rare protest. |
| Are you in Gaza? What impact is the fuel embargo having on you? Send us your experiences by filling out the form below. | Are you in Gaza? What impact is the fuel embargo having on you? Send us your experiences by filling out the form below. |