Damage done to Gaza farms revealed

Israeli assault damages Gaza farms severely
Sun, 25 Jan 2009 22:17:04
Yousef Al-Helou, Press TV, Gaza


Sat, 24 Jan 2009 19:27:15 GMT

The Hamas Ministry of Agriculture has put the extent of damage to the Gaza Strip's farming sector at more than 170 million US dollars.

The report comes as the United Nations Relief And Works Agency For Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) says at least one hundred thousand Gazans have become homeless due to Israel's 23-day war against the coastal sliver, Press TV correspondent in Gaza Ashraf Shannon reported.

An already-grim humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip started to deteriorate when Israel launched Operation Cast Lead on December 27.

Gaza residents have been struggling with a critical shortage of vital supplies due to an 18-months Israeli blockade on the coastal sliver.

The UN and other aid agencies say there are difficulties in delivering food, medicines and other supplies to the civilian population of the region due to damage done to Gaza's infrastructure as well as citing Israel's refusal to freely allow humanitarian aid into the region.