GENEVA/GAZA: A political crisis in Gaza is depriving two million people of electricity, vital medical care and clean water in sweltering summer temperatures, the United
Nations human rights office said on Friday.
It appealed to Israel, the State of Palestinian and Hamas authorities in Gaza to resolve their conflicts.
“We are deeply concerned about the steady deterioration in the humanitarian conditions and the protection of human rights in Gaza,” UN human rights spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani told a news briefing in Geneva.
“Israel, the State of Palestine and the authorities in Gaza are not meeting their obligations to promote and protect the rights of the residents of Gaza,” she said. Gaza has been under an Israeli blockade since 2007. Egypt, at odds with Hamas, also maintains a blockade.
Shamdasani said that at the height of summer, with soaring temperatures, electricity has often been provided for less than four hours a day, and never more than six since April.
“This has a grave impact on the provision of essential health, water and sanitation services,” she added.
Families buy only enough supplies for each day as they cannot store goods in refrigerators, especially meat and dairy products.
Hospital officials complain of acute shortages of medications.
The Gaza health ministry says about 40 per cent of essential medicines have run out, especially for patients with cancer, cystic fibrosis and kidney failure. — Reuters
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