UN has not abandoned giving help to Palestinian people – UNSCO letter to Editor, Financial Times/Non-UN document

UN has not abandoned giving help to Palestinian people
By Alvaro De Soto
Published: March 17 2006 02:00 | Last updated: March 17 2006 02:00

From Mr Alvaro de Soto.

Sir, Readers might draw the conclusion from Harvey Morris's article "Jericho prison siege further undermines leadership of PA" (March 16) that the United Nations had left the Palestinian people in the lurch. Press at the Erez Crossing on Wednesday were understandably too occupied with outgoing released hostages to notice me slipping into the Gaza strip to do my work as UN special co-ordinator.

The bulk of UN workers delivering assistance to the Palestinian people are in fact Palestinians and their work was not hampered by the temporary withdrawal of international personnel because of abduction threats, and they are already returning.

Alvaro de Soto,

UN Middle East Peace Envoy