United Nations Radio

Since 2007, and more intently over the past two weeks, the humanitarian situation in Gaza has continued to worsen.

The Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, UNRWA, Karen Abu-Zayd, has warned that UNRWA is facing what she called a grave and imminent crisis and that if it is to be averted, the Agency must receive significant additional pledges in the first quarter of 2009:

Abu-Zayd:We have a projected shortfall for 2009 of $87 million. We'll be able to get through this year with a $14 million shortfall. So next year, there is a much bigger one and one that we have never faced in quite some time. So we are very concerned about how we are going to fill that gap.

Narrator:We asked Ms. Abu-Zayd how donors were reacting to the crisis:

Abu-Zayd:They're thinking about it as some of them are able to give us more money and have pledged a bit more now. Our problem of course is the general financial crisis of the world, the economic crisis and the problem of the exchange rate gains. We've been able to get extra money because of our budget being in dollars and contributions being in euros and other things. But now tht isn't happening any more so we are pretty seriously affected.

Narrator:The on-going closure of the Gaza Strip to commercial goods and humanitarian aid has put civilians in a precarious situation, affecting ever aspect of life, says Antoine Grand, Director of Operations for ICRC, the International Committee of the Red Cross, in Gaza:

Grand:The situation on the ground is of grave concern as you mentioned. Over the past two weeks since the fifth of November, crossing points into Gaza have been completely closed. There was just a bit of fuel for Gaza power plant that was allowed last week - 650 thousand liters - but that was clearly not enough because the power plant shut down last Thursday and this power plant provides around 40 percent of electricity going into Gaza. So there have been long power cuts. And also because of the lack of spare parts and maintenance of the electrical system, we have 60 percent less electricity into Gaza in the last two weeks.

Narrator:The International Committee of the Red Cross, the ICRC, says the closure of the Gaza Strip came after dozens of home-made rockets were fired from there into Israel, following an incursion into the Strip carried out by the Israeli Defence Forces. I asked Mr. Grand if the ICRC had on-going discussions with Israel about opening Gaza for delivery of goods and services:

Grand:Yes we talk to them at various levels almost on a daily basis calling them to reopen the crossing points and showing them explaining (to) them the situation on the ground and the consequence of this closure, so yes, that is what we are doing almost on a daily basis - but without success so far..

UNRWA employs nearly 30,000 staff, the vast majority of whom are Palestinian refugees. UNRWA's operations are financed almost entirely by voluntary contributions from donors. The Agency's regular budget for 2008-2009 is $1.1 billion, which covers the recurren costs of the Agency's education, health and relief and social services activities.

Producer: Gerry Adams

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