http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=12133&Cr=palestin&Cr1=

UN News

Current violence pushing Gaza into a humanitarian crisis, UN agencies warn

5 October 2004 – The ongoing violence in Gaza, on top of the sharply deteriorating humanitarian situation this year, is pushing the Palestinian population into a deep crisis, a dozen United Nations aid agencies working in the region warned today.

They called on the Israeli Government to guarantee humanitarian agencies unrestricted and secure access into Gaza for both personnel and relief supplies, ensure the free movement of humanitarian goods and personnel within the territory, and respect its obligations under international humanitarian law by ensuring the safety of the Palestinian civilian population.

"The UN organizations recognize Israel's legitimate security concerns, particularly the need to stop Palestinian rocket and mortar attacks into civilian areas; however, its actions should be in conformity with international humanitarian law and it should not use disproportionate force," they said in a statement released in Jerusalem.

Since 28 September, 82 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, including 24 children, while 5 Israelis - including 2 children - have lost their lives. For the year, approximately 45 Palestinians have been killed each month in Gaza and poverty rates are predicted to rise to 72 per cent.

At the same time, movement restrictions imposed by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) have prevented effective delivery of humanitarian aid. The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) - the main organization helping people in the region - has not been able to deliver emergency food aid to the north of Gaza.

The IDF has also denied UN personnel secure access into Gaza for the last two weeks - making a total of 65 days so far this year that the UN has not been able to enter.

In related news, Secretary-General Kofi Annan was asked in New York if Israel should apologize if what it had claimed to be a rocket being loaded on a UN vehicle was in fact a hospital stretcher.

"In my discussions with the [Israeli Ambassador to the UN], I did raise that if it is found out that the facts are not correct, that they would issue a disclaimer on their side," he replied.

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http://www.phoenixtv.com/home/news/world/200410/06/335564.html

聯合國說以軍加沙行動已造成24名巴兒童死亡

2004年10月06日

新華社耶路撒冷１０月６日電（記者高路

明大軍）聯合國駐加沙辦事機構６日公佈的報告顯示，以軍在加沙地帶北部執行的“贖罪日”軍事行動已經造成２４名巴勒斯坦兒童死亡。

報告說，自從９月２８日以軍在加沙展開軍事行動以來，共有８２名巴勒斯坦人被打死，其中包括２４名兒童。報告指出，以軍行動嚴重破壞了加沙的人道主義狀況，限制了人道主義救援物資的發放，使巴勒斯坦人陷入人道主義危機。

報告還說，２００４年平均每月有大約４５名巴勒斯坦人喪生。加沙地帶的貧困比例目前已經上升到了７２％。（完）