UN calls for ending siege on the Palestinian territories

Director of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has called on international community on Tuesday to lift the siege on the Palestinian people.

During a meeting with officials of Foreign Affairs Ministry, John Ging said that "I appeal for the international community to work seriously and immediately to lift the siege on the Palestinian people who suffer very hard circumstances."

"The Palestinian people currently are living a real humanitarian crisis on all levels, especially with the cost of living, education and health," Ging warned.

The crisis in the Palestinian territories has worsened over the past seven months due to western sanctions on the Hamas-led government and the subsequent aid cutoff.

Moreover, Israel has stepped up military pressure on the Palestinians, especially in Gaza Strip, where the Israeli Corporal Gilad Shalit was captured last June.

Calling on the donor nations to provide the UNRWA with more funds to carry out its relief activates in Gaza, Ging said the situation there was very difficult.

He pointed out that the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) has been unable to pay salaries for teachers or keep the educational process on, adding the school children are paying the price.

Meanwhile, Ging also called for securing money to the Ministry of Education.

The international communities, including major donors, have imposed sanctions on the Hamas-led government for refusing to meet their demands of recognizing Israel and renounce violence.

Source: Xinhua