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In Gaza UN chief appeals for calm
In Gaza on Sunday, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon toured several areas, including Khan Younis, the site of a former Israeli settlement where the UN has approval from Israel to build 150 housing units for those who lost their homes in last year's Israeli offensive.
Ban Ki-moon in Gaza
Mr. Ban announced the housing plan, and said the UN would also build a flour mill and a sewage treatment plant. He said while the plans were a positive step, they were "like a drop in a bucket of water" and said much more needed to be done.
The visit to Gaza was part of a two-day trip to the region aimed at reviving Israeli-Palestinian talks. Mr. Ban on Saturday visited the West Bank and then Jerusalem where he met with Palestinian Authority and Israeli leaders. On Friday, he took part in the meeting of the Diplomatic Quartet which issued a statement calling on the two sides to resume talks aimed at a settlement in two years.
In Gaza, the Secretary-General said the Israeli policy of closures caused unacceptable suffering, especially for those under the age of 18.
Sec-Gen: This occupation must end. The Quartet again has reaffirmed that the end goal of this final settlement of all the core issues should bring an end to the occupation. All these core issues - refugees, and borders and peace issues, security - should all be addressed.
The Secretary-General took the opportunity of his visit to condemn the deaths of two Palestinian teenagers in the West Bank and as well rocket fire into Israel.
This was the Secretary-General's second visit to Gaza since the end of the Israeli offensive that was launched in December 2008.
Diane Bailey, United Nations
Duration: 1'52
