UN Security Council urged to solve Gaza conflict

Jan 27, 2009, 21:16 GMT

New York - The United Nations Security Council was urged Tuesday to take on the burden of solving the conflict in the Gaza Strip to make way for reconstruction and relief efforts.

The head of the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which cares for millions of uprooted Palestinians, told the council that the challenges it faces go beyond the humanitarian realm.

'They lie in the province of political action,' Karen AbuZayd said. 'For this reason, it is on this council and its esteemed members that part of the burden of restoring normalcy to Gaza rests.'

AbuZayd said law and order needs to be re-established in Gaza, all crossings into Gaza must be reopened and critical negotiations to end the Israel-Hamas conflict should proceed in an inclusive and balanced manner to ensure Palestinians' rights.

John Holmes, the UN undersecretary general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator, told the council that the conflict has killed 1,300 Palestinians and injured more than 5,300 others - 34 per cent of the total casualties are children.

Holmes said 21,000 homes were destroyed or badly damaged. He said some 50,000 people took refuge in UNRWA structures while tens of thousands of others stayed with families and friends.

'Widespread destruction was caused to Gaza's economic and civil infrastructure,' Holmes said.

'The reckless and cynical use of civilian installations by Hamas, and the indiscriminate firing of rockets against civilian populations, are clear violations of international humanitarian law,' Holmes said.

He said an estimated 1.3 million Gaza residents, of a total of 1.5 million, now need food aid.