Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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November 15, 2008

UN Agency Halts Food Aid in Gaza after Israel Shuts Border
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Humanitarian crisis looming in Gaza Strip, after new wave of
Israeli-Palestinian fighting 
A humanitarian crisis is looming in the Gaza Strip, after a new wave of
Israeli-Palestinian fighting. Robert Berger reports from the VOA bureau
in Jerusalem. Palestinian workers turn away woman seeking food aid at UN
food distribution center in Shati refugee camp in Gaza City, 15 Nov
2008Palestinian refugees who came to pick up food at a United Nations
agency in Gaza were turned away empty handed. Some 20,000 people were
due to pick up packages containing rice, flour, sugar and oil but the
warehouses are empty. The reason: Israel shut its border crossings into
Gaza 11 days ago in response to Palestinian rocket attacks. U.N.
spokesman Chris Gunness said the rocket attacks are intolerable."Of
course Israel has legitimate security concerns and we respect that and
we respect the right and indeed the obligation of Israel to take
action," said Gunness. But Gunness said that is not a justification for
cutting off food supplies, and he demanded that the borders reopen
immediately. "Let's see this for what it is. Fifty-six percent of the
Gaza Strip are children. Let us not cause suffering of innocent
children," said Gunness. Violence erupted 11 days ago when Israel
launched a cross-border raid into Gaza that it said was necessary to
prevent the kidnapping of Israeli soldiers. The Islamic militant group
Hamas that rules Gaza responded with rocket and mortar attacks. The
fighting has brought a five-month-old cease-fire to the brink of
collapse. 


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