UNRWA in Gaza: "Nowhere is Safe"

by Blue Crush | January 13, 2009 at 02:10 pm

218 views | 45 Recommendations | 15 comments

GENEVA, Jan 13 (Reuters) - A senior U.N. aid official appealed on Tuesday for the international community to provide protection for civilians in Gaza, calling it a "test of our humanity". John Ging, director of operations in Gaza for UNRWA, the U.N. Relief and Works Agency, also called for a full investigation into allegations that Israeli military forces may have used illegal weapons in their 18-day offensive.

He spoke by audiolink to reporters in Geneva. "Whatever is being done is not sufficient until the guns fall silent. That has to be our measure. And the international community cannot stand as bystanders and watch two parties that have now expressed their intent not to stop." Ging said.

"It is a test of our humanity ...," he added.

"All the people, the first thing they say to me and the last thing they say to me is 'Please, we need protection, nowhere is safe'," he said. "And they're right, nowhere is safe. The casualty figures speak for that.

Ging also called for a halt to rockets fired into Israel from Gaza. "The Israeli civilian population with rocket range are being terrorised on a daily basis and have been for years."

Palestinian medical officials said at least 925 people had been killed in Gaza since Israel begin its assault on Dec. 27 in response to cross-border rockets fired by Hamas militants. "The influx of wounded keeps growing. Almost one half of the injuries are women and children," ICRC spokeswoman Dorothea Krimitsas told reporters in Geneva.

About 100 aid trucks per day now enter Gaza, carrying "just a trickle of assistance", far short of the 500 needed daily to meet huge needs, including wheat for bread, he said.

Jacob Kellenberger, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, arrived in Gaza on Tuesday and visited an ICRC medical team working in Shifa Hospital. He's expected to visit senior officials in Jerusalem on Wednesday after visiting Sderot, an Israeli town targeted daily by rockets.

The ICRC said many wounded in Gaza had been "abandoned and left to suffer alone", unable to reach hospitals and inaccessible to Red Crescent ambulances and medical workers.

In a statement, the neutral humanitarian agency urged all parties, in particular Israel, to "remove restrictions on medical teams so they can do their life-saving work".

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158

at 16:07 on January 13th, 2009

The Red Cross said there was no evidence of use of illegal weapons.

Like in Berlin or Tokyo at the end of WWII there is no safe place when two countries fight in the middle of a city.

Blue Crush

at 19:38 on January 13th, 2009

Here's what the Red Cross said:

'The international Red Cross said Tuesday that Israel has fired white phosphorus shells in its offensive in the Gaza Strip but has no evidence to suggest the incendiary agent is being used improperly or illegally.'

tikun

at 21:55 on January 13th, 2009

That is NOT exactly what was said. Or certainly changed. The IDF is using it to light up the night sky. That is not illegal. Also, the criticism by the spokesperson is a bit disingenuous in regard to the fighting. Suggesting that Hamas is from another planet plunked down into Gaza and is fighting without any connection. Please until the reality is clear that Hamas is using Human Shields, men, women and CHILDREN by the so-called inpartial UN reps then their credibilty will once again be tested. The UN reps are toothless tigers that have lost the battle because of their own personal agendas that have very little to do with the truth.

David Y.

at 15:29 on January 17th, 2009

Amy Judd

at 19:32 on January 13th, 2009

Thanks for this story!

Blue Crush

at 19:46 on January 13th, 2009

You're welcome, I'm just glad there's to be an investigation into the Phosphorus thing, there's over 50 patients suffering burns throughout their bodies so far ... who knows how many there are that can't even get to the hospital.

There's so many stories on the web, of Doctors and reporters waiting at the Border, but being turned away. There was even a ship full of supplies turned away today, because it was from Iran.

poor oligarch (not verified)

at 05:47 on January 15th, 2009

UNRWA officals are reporting that there have been Israeli strikes using white phosporus against their aid supplies compound and two of their hospitals today, 15-01-2009.

source BBC Radio 4 'World at One'

Blue Crush

at 06:48 on January 15th, 2009

Destroying TONS of supplies. Thanks, poor oligarch, for this update. Here is the latest BBC link.

Of course, it's a "grave mistake", just like the bombing of the University and the School was a mistake.

Here's another interesting link.

aelusive

at 21:47 on January 13th, 2009

Too bad those terrorists in Hamas refuse to stop launching rockets at civilians. If someone did that to Canada from the U.S. under our freely elected government, every Canadian in the world would bomb U.S. cities till it stopped.

No different for Israel guys and gals. Think about it.

nyctuber

at 21:57 on January 13th, 2009

Cease fire ended, and Hamas immediately began launching away. I guess dead Israelis are ok in the eyes of Hamas/Gaza apologists.

Rob Walker

at 05:00 on January 15th, 2009

Most news reports I've seen show that Israel broke the cease fire first. Not that it really matters much as both parties are at fault.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KntmpoRXFX4

tikun

at 15:25 on January 15th, 2009

It really isnt important especially when you are receiving rockets in your neighborhood amd your children live in fear. That seems a good enough reason to respond.