BRUSSLES, December 31, 2008 (WAFA)- The European Commission urged Israel to immediately halt all attacks affecting the civilian population and requested it to open up the humanitarian space.
In a press release issued, Tuesday, The European Commission expressed its deep concerned by the situation in Gaza. The release said that, “the European Commission is extremely concerned about the plight of civilians in the Gaza Strip.”
It called for an immediate halt to military hostilities that are having a heavy impact on the civilian population in Gaza. It insisted on the need for sufficient access for supplies of essential humanitarian goods to Gaza, in particular in view of the dramatic situation of hospitals there.
“Urgent measures have to be taken in order to ensure safe and secure conditions for the distribution of these goods and to facilitate access of international agencies,” the press release continued.
As a first preliminary reaction to the humanitarian consequences of the current strikes, the European Commission is providing support to meet the most urgent medical needs in Gaza in addition to its ongoing support and in close cooperation with the international community. The Commission's Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO) provides currently over €73 million in humanitarian assistance to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, 56% of which is allocated to Gaza.
