MIDDLE EAST: The UN's World Food Programme warned yesterday that Gaza was facing a rapidly escalating crisis because of Israel's two-month-old offensive there.
"Industries which were once the backbone of Gaza's economy and food system, such as the agriculture and fishing industries, are suffocated by the current situation and risk losing all viability," said Arnold Vercken, local WFP director.
The crisis has left 70 per cent of Gaza's population lacking food and forced the WFP to increase the number of Gazans receiving aid to 220,000 from 160,000. They include poor farmers, fishermen and others. The agency cautioned that the crisis in Lebanon should not cause Gaza to be overlooked. "In contrast to Lebanon, where humanitarian food aid needs have been essentially met, the growing number of poor in Gaza are living on the bare minimum and face a daily struggle to cover their daily food needs."
With supplies low and unreliable, farmers are being forced to buy power and water to maintain their crops which is increasing prices at a time when people can't afford it. As a result, farmers are struggling to sell their produce. The fishing industry also has been paralysed by closure of the Gaza coastline since June 25th.
The US has proposed deploying international observers at the main cargo crossing between Israel and Gaza to prevent repeated closures of Gaza's economic lifeline, Palestinian and Israeli officials said yesterday. Both Israelis and Palestinians support the idea. However, Israel would only consider its implementation after the release of an Israeli soldier kidnapped by Hamas-allied militants.
Meanwhile yesterday, Israeli troops killed five Palestinians and wounded over a dozen in attacks on militants in the Gaza Strip and West Bank, said witnesses.