Humanitarian Agencies plead for access to Gaza Strip
A number of major international aid agencies have expressed their frustration at the ongoing blockade of the Gaza Strip by Israel. There are lamentable consequences for the population there, they claim. Over the past two years there has been less and less employment available, with resulting increased poverty and hardship for the community of 1.5 million. And wherever there is deprivation the children and the elderly are the most vulnerable.
In June 2007 Israel took this action in order to keep Hamas from smuggling weapons into Gaza, and thereby protect their own population from attack. Egypt has helped Israel by supporting the blockade because it too fears Hamas violence.
Some of the agencies involved are the UK-based CARE International and Oxfam International, plus World Vision International, and Action Against Hunger. They are supported by the United Nations and various UN agencies, which together call for unrestricted access to Gaza Strip, in accordance with international human rights standards.