UN Peace Coordinator visits Gaza 100 days after Israeli terrorist war, calls situation alarming

Date: 01 / 05 / 2009 Time: 13:58
Bethlehem - Ma’an -

UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Robert Serry was in Gaza Thursday on a mission to assess the situation, 100 days after the end of Israeli terrorist war, saw the death of 1,475 and injury of more than 5,000.

“The situation is really alarming,” Serry said, and noted that fulfilling humanitarian needs and early recovery efforts would be impossible without adequate fuel, cash, and repair materials coming into the area through the Israeli crossing points. “Better access is crucial,” he said.

Serry stressed the need to rebuild homes in Gaza and offer civilians protection from the “sweltering summer” rapidly approaching. He said the UN is “ready to help” in importing construction materials and will take responsibility to “ensure that imported building supplies are only used for their intended purposes.”

The Peace Coordinator did not overlook political obstacles to Gaza reconstruction and noted that “in the absence of real progress on issues like Palestinian reconciliation, open crossings, secure borders and a prisoners exchange, the potential for renewed violence is ever-present That would be disastrous for people in Gaza as well as Southern Israel. We’ve got to change this dynamic, with political progress, and with practical results on the ground,” Serry concluded.

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