Terrorized Gaza Civilians Need Aid; Relief Agencies Need "Humanitarian Breathing Space"

January 6, 2009 12:34 p.m. EST

Gaza City, Gaza Strip (AHN) - Many of the terrorized Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip are cold, hungry, lack running water and electricity and are running out of medical supplies, while some medical and ambulance workers have been killed trying to reach civilians wounded by the Israeli air and ground attacks.

The United Nations says the situation with ambulances and medical personnel having trouble reaching the wounded, or medics being killed can't continue. There must be a way to make sure that medical care and supplies and other supplies reach those in need, U.N. Humanitarian Coordinator for the occupied Palestinian territory Maxwell Gaylard said.

"We need a humanitarian breathing space to operate and to ensure that assistance particularly food and medical [supplies] reaches the people," Gaylard said in a statement. "Ambulances, staff, patients must be able to move freely. This includes the ability to leave and seek medical treatments unavailable in Gaza. International medical emergency teams need to be allowed in to support emergency capacity at Shifa hospital."

"There is an overall atmosphere of fear. More than half of the population are children. The spectre of internal displacement is emerging with growing numbers seeking shelter and already there are several thousand civilians in UNRWA's seven shelters," he said, referring to the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.

"Electricity and communications are down over much of the Strip both on account of lack of fuel and damage to critical infrastructure. Over a million people are currently without power, and over a quarter million without running water, some for up to six days," he added.

More than 555 Palestinians have been killed, including more than 100 women and children, while more than 2,700 Palestinians have been injured and six Israeli soldiers have been killed. Israeli military officials say they have killed about 130 Hamas members.

As Israeli military operations continue and the problems for civilians mount in Gaza, organizations are increasingly vocal in their criticism. There are more calls for a ceasefire, but Israel is intent on pressing on with its military operations.

On Tuesday:

• Oxfam reported that many Palestinian doctors have been killed by the Israeli air and ground attacks.
• International Red Cross officials declared there was a full-blown humanitarian crisis in Gaza caused by the Israeli military air and ground attacks.
• Amnesty International called on the United Nations Security Council to do something about the grave situation in Gaza and southern Israel.
• U.N. Relief and Works Agency protested the bomb attacks on hundreds of civilians in two clearly marked U.N. schools.