ISRAEL/GAZA: Israel allows some international humanitarian aid into battle-stricken Gaza enclave but aid agencies say its not enough

Record ID: 395770

  • Title: ISRAEL/GAZA: Israel allows some international humanitarian aid into battle-stricken Gaza enclave but aid agencies say its not enough
  • Date: 11th January 2009
  • Summary: KEREM SHALOM, ISRAEL-GAZA BORDER (JANUARY 11, 2009) (REUTERS) LINE OF TRUCKS AT KEREM SHALOM CROSSING CROSSING OPENING TO ALLOW TRUCKS IN VIEW OF CRANES LOADING BAGS OF FOOD ONTO TRUCKS VIEW OF BOXES OF AID VIEW OF BOXES OF TOMATOES VIEW OF SACKS OF FOOD (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) UNNAMED TRUCK DRIVER, SAYING: "In the current time, I have milk for babies, mattresses, bed co
  • Embargoed: 26th January 2009 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVAPHTQGX45C724IKTVQZLIWYI1
  • Story Text: Israel allows humanitarian aid into Gaza amid international concern of deepening humanitarian impact of war in the enclave.
    Israel allowed about 76 trucks loaded with aid into the battle stricken Gaza Strip on Sunday (January 11) as international concerns that a humanitarian crisis is unfolding in Gaza deepened on the 16th day of deadly battles.

    "I have milk for babies, mattresses, bed covers and flour for the poor people inside that are continuously bombarded," a truck driver told Reuters as trucks loaded with food and other essential aid made their way through the fortified Kerem Shalom border crossing in the southern Gaza Strip.
    Israeli actions have drawn denunciations from the Red Cross, U.N.
    agencies and Arab and European governments, spurred by the Palestinian civilian death toll in the hundreds.
    Concerned about the deepening impact of the war on Gaza's 1.5 million people, more than half of whom depend on U.N. food assistance, the United Nations resumed full aid distribution on Saturday after receiving Israeli assurances that its staff would not be harmed. A U.N. driver was killed on Thursday.
    Aid agencies responsible for distributing aid to Gaza's neediest citizens say Israel needs to do more to allow greater quantities of aid in and to ease conditions so that it can be distributed effectively.
    In response to international calls to protect civilians - Israel's army started temporary afternoon ceasefires last week to allow people in Gaza a three-hour window to stock up on supplies. The temporary ceasefires have had some impact but witnesses say the short lulls have not been fully respected by the two sides in the conflict and provide no guarantee of safety for people trying to collect much-needed food.
    Israel has pressed on with its offensive despite a U.N. Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire and Egyptian-European efforts at mediation, saying it is intent on stopping Hamas rocket fire.
    Israel is demanding a complete halt to Hamas rocket fire, plus regional and international guarantees to stop the group rearming via smuggling tunnels under the border with Egypt.
    Hamas wants any ceasefire deal to include the ending of Israel's crippling economic blockade of the Gaza Strip and the withdrawal of all Israeli forces from the territory, from which the Jewish state withdrew in 2005 after a 38-year occupation.
    A total of 858 Palestinians and thirteen Israelis --- three civilians killed by rocket fire and 10 soldiers --- have been killed since the offensive began on Dec. 27.
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