Humanitarian organisations in Gaza today called for full and unrestricted access for spare parts and materials which are critically needed to restore
water and sanitation services. As a result of the near complete closure of Gaza’s crossings since June 2007, equipment and supplies needed for the construction, maintenance and operation
of water and sanitation facilities have been denied entry to the Gaza Strip, leading to the gradual breakdown of these essential services.The United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for the
occupied Palestinian territory, Mr Maxwell Gaylard, joined with the Association for International Development Agencies (AIDA), of which ActionAid is a member, in calling for the opening of crossings
so that essential materials can enter Gaza.ActionAid's Gaza Emergency Program Manager, Richard Sandison (based in Gaza) said: “ActionAid's ability to effectively support
communities in Gaza is hampered while people's access to clean water and sanitation services is limited. ActionAid's livelihood recovery programmes, predominantly in the agricultural sector,
are severely restricted while farmers do not have sufficient water and people are unable to grow adequate food supplies and source clean water for consumption. "Up to 60 per cent of
the people and communities with which ActionAid works are in the agricultural sector. They are struggling to grow essential crops and vegetables and raise livestock for consumption and income. The
social and economic recovery of Gaza is an illusion without clean and safe water and sanitation services.” List of signatoriesStatement in
EnglishStatement in Arabic Statement in Hebrew
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
An Israeli soldier kneels beside a detained Palestinian farmer as construction vehicles destroy a man-made reservoir (not seen) on his farm near the West Bank city of Hebron September 3, 2009. ...
