Gaza City: UN agencies have called on Israel to restore full fuel deliveries to the Hamas-run Gaza Strip, saying that a pledge to resume supplies to the territory's sole power station was not enough to stop a "severe impact" on civilians.

Israel halted all fuel deliveries to Gaza last Wednesday following an attack by militants on the main supply terminal in which two Israeli civilians were killed. "UN humanitarian and development agencies working in the occupied Palestinian territory are gravely concerned about the limited fuel supplies in the Gaza Strip which are having a severe impact upon daily life for the population and UN operations," a statement said yesterday.

Israel's announcement that it will resume deliveries of fuel to the power plant is a positive step but is insufficient to address the severe shortages of fuel used for transport and generators. The current absence of fuel at petrol stations has meant that normal transportation has ceased, many students have been unable to get to school and many health professionals have been unable to get to hospitals and clinics.

"There have been difficulties transporting essential items such as food throughout Gaza." The UN agencies said that even before the attack on the Nahal Oz fuel terminal the amount of fuel delivered by Israel to Gaza was "inadequate to fulfil Gaza's requirements". The territory was receiving just 3.8 million litres of diesel and 340,000 litres of benzene, compared with more than 8.8 million litres and 1.7 million litres respectively a year previously.

Source : PTI