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EU Commissioner Louis Michel
renews call for immediate humanitarian access to Gaza
Louis Michel, the European
Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, has
called for the opening of the border between Israel and
Gaza to enable vital relief supplies to reach the people
inside the Gaza Strip. "We know the needs are increasing
all the time. The problem now is providing secure access
to those who are suffering. €30 million in supplies and
funding from the EU are ready and waiting: give us the
tools to get on with the job."
Mr Michel stressed the need for rapid
action to prevent the humanitarian position from
deteriorating any further. "In the current situation,
there is a real risk that Gaza will begin to look like a
citadel under siege, where the civilian population is
trapped and even basic needs cannot be met. Humanitarian
aid is neutral. It does not seek to confer any advantage
on any party or imply any form of political recognition.
There are no grounds for a blockade of humanitarian aid.
This must continue to be provided to the people in Gaza
in the same way as for vulnerable groups in the West
Bank - and in other crisis zones."
The European Commission has a relief package of almost
€30 million for Gaza, including €10.2 million just
released from its food aid reserve for the UN Relief and
Works Agency (UNRWA) for emergency food aid in the Gaza
Strip. This comes from an overall humanitarian budget of
€67.4 million for the Palestinians - €43 million in its
humanitarian global plan and €23.4 million earmarked for
food aid. The relief programmes are implemented by the
Commission's operational partners including the UN
Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), the World Food
Programme (WFP), the International Committee of the Red
Cross and non-governmental organisations. |