A new report jointly compiled by the UN, the EU and the World Bank says the socioeconomic situation in the Gaza Strip has been weakened further since May.  

Gaza City, July 12 (RHC)-- A new report jointly compiled by the UN, the EU and the World Bank says the socioeconomic situation in the Gaza Strip has been weakened further since May.  In recent years, the enclave has been receiving its bare essentials through the Kerem Shalom crossing as well as two others, including one with Egypt, which is being strictly controlled by the government in Cairo.

“The UN currently estimates that 250,000 people are still without regular access to piped water, and that 185,000 are relying on unsafe water sources or paying higher prices for bottled water. The critical agricultural sector, a main source of food and income in Gaza is at risk, including the current planting season,” Hastings added.

From May 10 to 21, Israel continuously bombarded the Gaza Strip, in an aggression prompted by the regime’s repeated assaults against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, in particular its forced displacement plots in the East Jerusalem al-Quds neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah.

At least 260 Palestinians, including over 60 children, were killed in the 11-day aggression. The Gaza-based resistance movements retaliated with thousands of rockets and missiles.  The regime was eventually forced to announce a ceasefire, brokered by Egypt, which came into force in the early hours of May 21.

According to a human rights report, 91% of children in the Gaza Strip suffer from some form of psychological trauma after Israel’s latest war on Gaza.  “The cessation of the regular entry of commercial goods is impacting the work of hundreds of Gaza private sector businesses and the income of thousands of workers. Exports from Gaza, which are critical to livelihoods, are virtually halted. Obstacles facing the private sector need to be removed if it is to recover and resume its role as the main driver of growth and employment,” the UN official further said.

In conclusion, Hastings said that “Israel must fulfill its obligations under international humanitarian law”, stressing that, “humanitarian assistance is not conditional.”