United Nations Radio

UN humanitarian agencies working in the Occupied Palestinian Territory have appealed for 460 million dollars to fund their relief programmes.

These programmes are responding to the deteriorating humanitarian situation in parts of the West Bank and in the Gaza Strip, where the Israeli blockade has caused a rapid and significant increase in poverty and unemployment over the past year. Allegra Pacheco, deputy head of the UN humanitarian coordination office in the Occupied Territory says this money is just a band aid.

"The Gaza Strip is in a dire situation - we call it a crisis in human dignity. This assistance will just help alleviate the most immediate symptoms of the crisis in terms of providing food, providing some cash. However, ultimately, what the Gaza strip needs is more investments in development and ultimately a political solution."

Ms. Pacheco says the humanitarian needs in Gaza require at least 15 trucks of supplies a day to come into the territory, but the Israeli authorities have only allowed 40 trucks to enter Gaza in the past 3 weeks.

Diane Bailey, United Nations.

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