Statement on Gaza by UN agencies working in the OPT – Press release

Statement on Gaza by the United Nations Agencies working in the occupied Palestinian territory

We the United Nations Agencies working in the occupied Palestinian territory are extremely alarmed by the deteriorating security situation in Gaza. The upsurge of violence, which has taken the lives of innocent civilians, is also putting our workers on the ground at serious risk. It is becoming extremely difficult for us to fulfill our humanitarian mandates to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people. The implications of this for a population already facing extreme hardship are grave. We remain determined to continue with our humanitarian work.

We call for an immediate end to the violence, respect by all parties for the human rights of the population in Gaza and we condemn in the strongest possible terms the killing of women, children and other unarmed civilians. We appeal to the parties to refrain from any action which endangers civilian life and which prevents us from fulfilling our humanitarian responsibilities.

3rd February 2007

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The United Nations Childrens' Fund (UNICEF).
The Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
The Office of the United Nations Special Co-ordinator (UNSCO).