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Department of Public Information • News and Media Division • New York |
The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today’s noon briefing by Michèle Montas, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
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** Gaza
On Gaza, international humanitarian agencies operating in Gaza held an emergency meeting there today to assess Gaza’s increasingly dire humanitarian situation, according to the Office of the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process. It was determined that, if no fuel is allowed in tomorrow, Gaza’s power plant will shut down and there will be increased electricity cuts in most areas of Gaza, lasting up to eight hours a day.
In an effort to save fuel, the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East has been prioritizing food distribution, solid waste removal and sewage projects. Despite this, some 500,000 Gazans living in 12 municipalities are already being forced to live without solid waste management capacity. UNRWA reports that its fuel supplies will be exhausted by this Thursday. If fuel still hasn’t been allowed in by then, UNRWA will have to cut food aid to 650,000 refugees and garbage collection services for 500,000 Gazans.
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Document Sources: Secretary-General, United Nations Department of Public Information (DPI)
Subject: Economic issues, Gaza Strip, Humanitarian relief
Publication Date: 22/04/2008