Tuesday, May 23 2006 13:18 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

United Nations: UN humanitarian agencies are considering enhancing their role in the Palestinian territories, especially in Gaza, where the situation is serious and steadily worsening.

Briefing a UN committee which deals with Palestine, Director of UN Relief and Work Agency (UNWARA) Andrew Whitley said his agency, which is main humanitarian body operating on the occupied territories, plans to increase assistance to refugees and other vulnerable sections of the affected population.

"Though information from the field remains partial, anecdotal and incomplete," Whitley said.

"It points clearly towards a serious and steadily worsening situation, particularly in Gaza," he said.

He said he expected that many refugees who relied on the Palestinian Authority in the past would soon be turning to the Agency for assistance in the area of health care and education.

While anticipating that when schools reopen in September, children who are eligible for UNRWAFs services would attend UNRWA-run schools instead of government schools, Whitley stressed that by expanding its role, UNRWA did not intend to replace the Palestinian Authority.

"The Agency would do its utmost not to undermine the political institutions carefully built up over the past decade," he said.

"The humanitarian official said the Agency is in need of additional funding as its previous emergency appeal remains short of nearly half of the amount. The fresh appeal for funding, he said, would need to be expanded significantly in the coming days," he said.