Crisis hits Gaza but Rafah not opening

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 11:33:13 GMT | PressTV

Egypt has not acted upon world calls for Rafah to be opened. Egypt has refrained from opening the Rafah border crossing into Gaza despite the deteriorating situation in the blockaded region. Enforcing the Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip, Egypt has not opened the Rafah crossing despite its full sovereignty over the territory. Press TV correspondent Akram al-Sattari reported from the Rafah border that the humanitarian situation in the besieged strip has not changed as the blockade continues. Israeli military operations have worsened the already dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza as the civilian infrastructures were destroyed during the invasion. Gazans are facing harsh conditions without food, water, fuel and electricity. The hospitals and other medical facilities suffer from severe shortages of medical supplies and electricity. The crossings into the Gaza Strip still remain closed and the humanitarian aid entering the besieged strip is below the minimum for survival. Nearly 5,000 houses were destroyed and hundreds of people have become homeless in the strip, which has been under an 18-month Israeli blockade. Tons of food and supplies were destroyed last week by Israeli artillery shells on the UN headquarters in the Gaza Strip. The attack set ablaze the warehouses in the compound, which held humanitarian aid for Palestinian refugees. The United Nations secretary general expressed his anger at the devastation during a tour in Gaza on Tuesday, saying that those who opened fire on the building should be held accountable. "I have protested many times, and am today protesting in the strongest terms, and am condemning it. I have asked for a full investigation and to make those responsible people accountable," he told reporters.

Related News Ban calls for probe into attack on UN in Gaza