FUEL ALLOWED INTO GAZA, BUT OTHER CROSSINGS STILL CLOSED, SAY UN OFFICIALS

FUEL ALLOWED INTO GAZA, BUT OTHER CROSSINGS STILL CLOSED, SAY UN OFFICIALS New York, Feb 29 2008 3:00PM One border crossing between Israel and the Gaza Strip was opened for fuel today, allowing 400,000 litres to enter Gaza, but the three crossings for humanitarian and commercial goods remain closed, the Office of the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process (UNSCO) reported.

Today's opening means the electricity situation inside Gaza, home to an estimated 1.4 million people, has returned to where it was last week, according to UNSCO. That means power cuts of up to 12 hours a day in Gaza City and in central Gaza.

Supplies of essential goods in Gaza have been dwindling since Israel imposed tight restrictions last month on entry to and exit from the area, in response to rocket attacks by Palestinian militants in Gaza against targets in southern Israel.

UN officials, including Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, have repeatedly expressed concern in recent weeks about the humanitarian impact of the restrictions on daily life in Gaza.
2008-02-29 00:00:00.000

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