UN suspends aid deliveries to Gaza

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Source: CCTV.com | 01-09-2009 09:34

The United Nations has halted aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip, citing Israeli attacks on its staff and installations as the reason.

Meanwhile, the International Red Cross has also put restrictions on its aid operations to Gaza City.

Palestinians receive food aid from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) at the refugee camp of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on the border with Egypt. (AFP/Said Khatib)

The UN says one of its aid trucks came under Israeli fire in northern Gaza, which killed the driver.

A UN spokesman says his organization coordinated the delivery with Israel, and the vehicle was clearly marked with a UN flag and insignia.

The Israeli army says it's investigating the incident.

The UN, meanwhile, says its aid operations in Gaza will be suspended until it can get safety and security guarantees for its staff.

Christopher Gunness, UN Relief and Works Agency, said, "We have been forced to suspend our aid operations in Gaza because of a number of incidents against our staff. Firstly, three Palestinian colleagues have been killed in the fighting, installations are taking direct hits and - in the latest incident - a convoy of three vehicles was going in to recover the body of a dead colleague when it came under direct fire from the Israeli Army."