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UN calls on Israel to end security measures imposed on Gaza

19 August 2010 17:22 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Two UN organizations on Thursday urged Israel to end its security measures imposed on the Gaza Strip for more than three years, APA reports quoting Xinhua News Agency.

Marking the World’s Humanitarian Day, World Food Program (WFP) and the Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in a joint study that the Israeli measures have caused painful reality to Gaza population.

"Since the end of 2008, the Israeli army had expanded the no-go zones," said the study, adding "22 Palestinians were killed because they approached these areas."

The joint study was announced in a news conference held in the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun, which has been subjected to frequent Israeli military offensives over the past 10 years.

The study is the first of its kind, which examines the scope of access-restrictions on Gaza imposed by Israel. The meeting was held at the agricultural school in the town, which has been a subject for Israeli offensives.

The study also addresses the impact of the Israeli restrictions on physical security, agricultural and fishing livelihoods, including loss of property and damage to infrastructure, and estimates of losses in terms of income and agricultural produce as well as access to services.

Among the speakers are Jean Gough, the Acting UN Humanitarian Coordinator and the UNICEF special representative, and Country Director of the WFP Christine van Nieuwenhuyse.