Gaza humanitarian access – Spokesperson for SecGen – Highlights of noon briefing

• According to the latest humanitarian update on the occupied Palestinian territory put out this week by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), in the Gaza Strip, the ability to bring essential commodities was further reduced in January, due the total closure of the fuel crossing at Nahal Oz. That closure turned Kerem Shalom into the single functional crossing for goods, except for a conveyor belt at the Karni Crossing.
    
• The gradual channeling of all humanitarian shipments to Kerem Shalom since the imposition of the blockade has significantly increased the cost of humanitarian deliveries. OCHA says that lifting the blockade over Gaza and facilitating the operation of humanitarian organizations are essential to the improvement of the humanitarian situation in the occupied Palestinian territory and to the restoration of dignity to its population.

The Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General
United Nations, S-378
New York, NY 10017
Tel. 212-963-7162
Fax. 212-963-7055