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del.icio.us Digg It!  new Last update - 21:42 10/12/2007 UN calls for action to end fuel shortage aggravating Gaza health crisis By Reuters Tags: UN, health, fuel, Gaza United Nations officials called for swift action on Monday to end a fuel and electricity shortage, partly caused by Israeli sanctions, that has aggravated a health crisis in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) said fuel shortages in Gaza had made it harder for health services to function. "WHO and UNRWA are appealing to all parties involved to ensure that in future all health facilities in Gaza are supplied with the appropriate amount of electricity and fuel to provide fully functional services," the groups said in a statement. Advertisement Ambrogio Manenti, the head of the WHO in the West Bank and Gaza, said the Israeli restrictions, a strike by Gaza fuel station owners and delays in payments from the Palestinian Authority to Israeli fuel companies had led to severe energy shortages in Gaza hospitals. Hamas seized control of Gaza in June following violent clashes with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah group. Israel has declared Gaza an "enemy entity" and launches regular raids into the coastal territory to try to curb rocket fire by militants into its southern region. Israel began reducing fuel supplies to the Strip in October. Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev said Israel was committed to letting aid into Gaza, but while Hamas continues to fire rockets into Israel that target civilians, "it cannot be business as usual between Israel and Gaza". It is increasingly difficult for Gazans to get necessary medical treatment outside of the territory. "In Gaza, if you are ill, particularly if you have a heavy illness, more or less, your destiny is written," the WHO's Manenti said. The power struggle between Hamas and Fatah, including the appointment by Hamas of hospital officials and a second health minister, has also caused confusion and affected services in Gaza, said Eyad Al Sarraj, chairman of the Gaza Community Mental Health Program. In Brussels, Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayad urged Israel to lift its blockade on Gaza, saying his Fatah-backed government had indicated its willingness to manage the crossings in and out of the strip if Israel agrees to lift the blockade. Related articles: Olmert: We won't allow Gaza to slide into a humanitarian crisis UN: Almost half of Palestinians in Gaza, W. Bank are food insecure IDF: Gaza fuel cuts don't violate humanitarian duty Leftists announce mock power cuts to protest Gaza fuel slash Bookmark to del.icio.us Tehran threat Olmert delivered a rebuttal to the assessment that Iran halted its nukes program. More than war The UN has adopted an Israeli-proposed resolution in the field of economic development.   1.   UNWRA and WHO ought to go to Lebanon 21:52  |  Lynn 10/12/07   2.   What about an end to kassam attacks. 22:04  |  Avraham 10/12/07   3.   for un to restore any credability it must put forth that rockets 22:46  |  ralph 10/12/07   4.   and pray tell what does rocket fire result in. what fools 22:47  |  ralph 10/12/07   5.   hey un here is an eye opener rockets aggravate ones health. 22:59  |  ralph 10/12/07   6.   hey un here is an eye opener rockets aggravate ones health. 22:59  |  ralph 10/12/07   7.   Similarities 23:02  |  Bob 10/12/07   8.   The world does not support Collective Punishment, unlike Israel. 00:18  |  POP 11/12/07   9.   Hamas steals hospitals fuel for rockets 00:25  |  Free Gilad Shalit 11/12/07   10.   Fuel going to rockets instead of to people 00:26  |  Free Gilad Shalit 11/12/07   11.   Let the UN build a hospital in Sinai 00:47  |  Straight Talk 11/12/07   12.   Confiscate 10% of UN "humanitarian" aid, give it to Sderot 00:56  |  Dr. L. Brnd 11/12/07   13.   UNRWA 01:16  |  Ron 11/12/07   14.   gaza 01:48  |  tom 11/12/07   15.   and who begat the misery? the answer is simple 02:14  |  Richard S 11/12/07   16.   Why is it increasingly difficult for Gazans to get 02:23  |  Jon 11/12/07   17.   THE INCREDIBLE EXCELLENCE OF ARAB COMPASSION 02:38  |  Brant 11/12/07   18.   UNWRA Should call for stop of Kasams and 03:46  |  TOMY 11/12/07   19.   The UN can - (see below) 04:12  |  Mark Lincoln 11/12/07   20.   #8 - All those OPEC countries couldn`t spare 04:13  |  Steve 11/12/07   21.   #14 - Tom, no one cut off anything yet. 04:17  |  Steve 11/12/07   22.   Why can`t we all agree to get it over with? 04:17  |  Mark Lincoln 11/12/07   23.   Enemy Entity 05:26  |  Bretware 11/12/07   24.   Israel needs to worry about Israel 06:11  |  Shlomo 11/12/07   25.   The important action: Arabs ending the war 13:45  |  David Teich 11/12/07   26.   22: Mark Lincoln having difficulty seeing through 13:50  |  David Teich 11/12/07   27.   feul shortage 16:13  |  colin 12/12/07

Today Online 15 Qassams hit Negev hours after PM vows to remove threat Responses: 101 Hamas urges PA to boycott peace talks in wake of IDF Gaza raid Responses: 34 Official: Gov't okayed hundreds more homes in West Bank Responses: 50 ADL hails NYPD for arrests in anti-Semitic subway attack Responses: 53 Haaretz.com TV: Routine IDF search leaves Palestinian home in shambles Responses: 12 Rosner's Domain American Jews are losing interest in Israel Guest: redivision of Jerusalem will lead to terrible bloodshed A more traditional Reform movement (WTR) Republicans reacted much better to the NIE on Iran More Headlines 18:13 IDF chief: Major military Gaza offensive becoming more likely 18:14 Sderot mayor resigns in wake of rocket barrage from Gaza Strip 18:02 In first official talks since 2001, PA blasts Israel for J'lem construction 17:57 New book claims German urged Iran to buy Pakistan nuke tech 18:15 Survey: U.S. Jews are losing interest in Israel 16:31 Top Lebanese army general, four others killed in blast near Beirut 17:38 First Palestinian policewomen deployed to direct W. Bank traffic 17:02 Teachers: Progress being made over class sizes, length of school day 15:23 Ethiopian immigrants protesting discrimination block Petah Tikva streets Previous Editions Select Day 11 dec 10 dec 09 dec 07 dec 06 dec 05 dec 04 dec 03 dec 02 dec 30 nov 29 nov 28 nov

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