United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s high-level team to the Middle East, which includes his Special Political Adviser, arrived in Cairo today on the first leg of a diplomatic mission aimed at stemming the increasing violence between Israel, Lebanon and the Palestinians. The mission’s first meeting is scheduled with Egyptian Foreign Minister Abu Ghait after which the three-person team is expected to hold discussions with the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, Amre Moussa, a UN spokesperson said in New York. Annan decided to send the mission following the numerous phone calls he had made with officials around the world about the escalating violence in the region, UN spokesperson Marie Okabe told reporters. Read more about Secretary-General's team on the Middle East arrives in Cairo for first leg of peace talks
Aiming to help defuse the current crisis in the Middle East, a three-person team dispatched by Secretary-General Kofi Annan to the region held talks today with key Arab countries in Cairo. The Secretary-General’s Special Political Adviser, Vijay Nambiar, who leads the team, and UN senior officials Alvaro de Soto and Terje Roed-Larsen, had meetings on the fringes of the Arab League meeting in Cairo with Oman, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and a representative of the Office of the Palestinian President. The discussions focused on the escalating hostilities in the Middle East – specifically Lebanon, Gaza and Israel, according to UN sources. Read more about UN team holds talks in Cairo on need to defuse crisis
A survey conducted by Medecins du Monde in the health facilities of Gaza following the beginning of the Israeli incursion has revealed pre-occupying results regarding access to drinkable water, food and health care. Represented by Pierre Micheletti, the President of MdM France, who has recently returned from the field, MdM is alarmed by the deterioration of the health of Gaza inhabitants. MdM asks for the ending of retaliations against the civilian population. The MdM teams conducted this survey before and during the incursion, with two samples of approx. 500 patients in 15 health facilities. Read more about Gaza: Survey regarding the consequences of the Israeli incursion
The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains precarious as its 1.4 million inhabitants suffer the effects of the Israeli operation “Summer Rain.” The number of casualties is increasing daily. As at 10 July 55 Palestinians had been killed and over 180 injured since the beginning of the operation, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. These numbers include both civilians and militants. On the Israeli side, one soldier had been killed in action. Infrastructure was the main target during the first days of the Israeli military operation. Read more about ICRC bulletin - Gaza
United Nations humanitarian officials today urged Israel, the Palestinians and Lebanese Hizbollah militants to refrain from disproportionate responses in the current renewed fighting, avoid attacking civilians, end rocket attacks and release immediately all kidnapped people. “We fear a downward spiral to a totally uncontrollable situation,” UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Jan Egeland told reporters in Geneva, where he attended an international meeting on the social, economic, humanitarian needs of civilians in Gaza, describing that area as “a social crisis is becoming a humanitarian crisis.” Read more about UN officials urge end to 'disproportionate' attacks, release of seized soldiers
Since the Hamas victory in the Palestinian parliamentary elections in January, funding from a number of western donors has been suspended, pending the new Palestinian Authority (PA) acceding to Quartet principles related to non-violence, recognition of Israel and acceptance of previous agreements. Heavy damage to the Palestinian civilian infrastructure in the Gaza Strip, including the destruction of the Gaza power station on 28 June, has greatly reduced the supply of electricity and water to Gazan households. Humanitarian organisations are concerned of potential outbreaks of communicable diseases in Gaza, one of the most densely-populated areas in the world. Read more about Joint statement on humanitarian situation in Palestinian territory
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is alarmed about the deteriorating situation in the Gaza Strip. The continuing escalation of violence, with military operations taking place in highly populated areas, has serious consequences for the civilian population. Over the past two weeks, Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip have led to the deaths of dozens of people and the wounding of many more, among them a large number of civilians. In one single incident on 12 July, nine family members – including children – were killed in their home by an air strike in Gaza City. In some cases, people living near operations have been unable to leave their homes for several days. Read more about ICRC gravely concerned about humanitarian situation in Gaza
The humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate in the Gaza Strip due to shortages of electricity and water, caused by the 28 June bombing by the Israel Air Force (IAF) of the Gazan power plant, and the continued sporadic opening of only some of Gaza’s crossing points. Electricity supply to households and institutions remains severely depleted. Gazans are receiving on average 6 - 8 hours of electricity per day and for most families living in urban areas 2 - 3 hours of water per day. Almost half the population in the Gaza Strip are children, who are living in an environment of violence, fear and insecurity. Read more about Gaza Strip Situation Report No. 6
Seeking to defuse what he called “the major crisis” stemming from the flare-up of violence between Israel, the Palestinians and Lebanon, Secretary-General Kofi Annan is sending a three-member team of veteran United Nations officials for wide-ranging talks in the region. The team, led by Annan’s Special Political Advisor Vijay Nambiar and including UN envoy to Middle East Alvaro de Soto and Special Envoy Roed-Larsen, will first visit Cairo to meet with Egyptian officials and consult with Arab League Foreign Ministers meeting there on Saturday, a spokesman announced today. Read more about Annan sends top advisers to Middle East to defuse new crisis
The Red Crescent Society in Egypt has denied reports that four Palestinians stranded on the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing with the Gaza Strip had died as a result of poor conditions. “Two Palestinians in Egypt have died since the crisis erupted,” the Society said. “One of them died in Cairo, the other in his home in al-Arish [in different circumstances].” The border crossing, which is 350km north of Cairo and constitutes the Gaza Strip’s only gateway to the world, has been closed from the Israeli side since 25 June for ‘security reasons’. Read more about Palestinians stranded at Rafah border assisted, Red Crescent says
