WHO urges end to Gaza violence
Agence France-Presse
First Posted 22:56:00 12/30/2008
Filed Under: Armed conflict
GENEVA -- The World Health Organization on Tuesday called for an immediate halt to hostilities in Gaza and urged Israel to ensure that medical supplies are channeled to those hit by the military action.
"Civilians are paying the price for the prolonged blockade. As a top priority, the shortages of essential and life-saving medicines need to be abated without delay," said the WHO in a statement.
At least 363 Palestinians, including 39 children, have been killed and 1,720 people wounded in intensive bombardment by Israel on Islamist Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip.
"The inability of the hospitals to cope with a problem of this magnitude, if the situation continues unchanged, will result in a surge in preventable deaths from complications due to trauma," warned the WHO.
Negotiations were ongoing with the Israelis to funnel medical supplies through, the WHO added as it urged an end to the conflict.
"WHO reiterates its call for the immediate discontinuation of the current violence and the removal of blockades so that much-needed food, water, fuel, medicines and other humanitarian aid can reach those in need," it said.
Meanwhile, a spokesman from the International Committee of the Red Cross told AFP that a flight carrying 10 tons of medical aid supplies would depart from Geneva on Tuesday.
The aid group also managed to send five ambulances and three lorries carrying blood transfusion equipment to Gaza on Monday.
Israel has so far shunned world appeals for a truce, as it massed forces on the Gaza border Tuesday and warned that its deadly assault on Hamas could last for weeks as jets pummelled Islamist targets for a fourth day.
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