UN Chief Visits Gaza, Calls For Lifting Of Blockade
Local Editor
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres called for the blockade of Gaza to be lifted Wednesday as he visited the Palestinian enclave enduring "one of the most dramatic humanitarian crises" he had seen.
Guterres' comments came as he wrapped up his first visit to the ‘Israeli'-occupied territories and Palestine since taking office.
Wednesday in Gaza, Guterres said he had been struck by humanitarian conditions in the overcrowded and impoverished enclave, where an electricity crisis has worsened and clean water is lacking.
"I am deeply moved to be in Gaza today, unfortunately to witness one of the most dramatic humanitarian crises that I've seen in many years working as a humanitarian in the United Nations," Guterres said.
He later said it was "important to open the closures," in a reference to the Zionist decade long blockade of Gaza and its border with Egypt that has remained closed in recent years.
Guterres made the comments at a school run by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, in the northern Gaza Strip.
At least 70 percent of Gazans are dependent upon international aid. UNRWA plays a major role in the strip, with the same percentage of the population classified as refugees.
Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team
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