Three Different Takes on Aid Priorities in Gaza (OneWorld.net)

[ConsAreLiars]

GAZA CITY, Aug 5 (IRIN) - The quality of life, the economy and food security for Palestinians living in Gaza have been severely impaired by Israel’s strict four-year blockade, according to the UN. Israel says its closure regime is designed to protect Israeli citizens from attacks by militants in Gaza. Hamas, the ruling group in Gaza, says Israel's blockade is aimed at undermining its rule.

IRIN asked three senior officials in the region - from the UN, the Israeli government and Hamas - what they considered to be the top five humanitarian needs of the 1.5 million Palestinians living in the Strip.

UN view Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian affairs (OCHA) for the occupied Palestinian territory, defines the situation in Gaza as “a protracted human dignity crisis with important humanitarian elements”.

Lazzarini says Gaza is a man-made crisis. He uses the term “human dignity crisis” because he says the entire Gaza population is subject to collective punishment under the blockade, is unlawfully contained in Gaza, and denied the right to movement and access. The containment of the population was highlighted when people could not move during Israel’s 23-day offensive that ended in January 2009, One: food security ... Two: unemployment and poverty ... Three: shelter ... Four: water, sanitation and health care ... Five: education

Hamas view One: freedom of movement ... Two: health services ... Three: water and sanitation ... Four: fuel and electricity supplies ... Five: education

From and more at: http://www.alagankulam.in/news/article/9396/977-yahoo-news

For the Israeli view, read the whole article. Nothing there to surprise anyone.

[Chulanowa]

1. Not surprising at all

"There's no problems in Gaza, but the problems in Gaza are all Hamas' fault!"

[CJvR]

2. No surprise there.

Hamas first priority is more rockets.