Aid shipments arrive in Gaza

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Source: CCTV.com | 01-31-2009 09:28

Several trucks carrying aid and supplies from the United Nations and other aid agencies have crossed into Gaza through the Rafah crossing. The supplies are to be distributed to Gaza residents.

Palestinian Jumma Dardona, 34, center, receives  humanitarian food in a makeshift camp in eastern  Jebaliya, northern Gaza strip, Wednesday, Jan. 28,  2009.(AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)

Two UN trucks dropped off 460 mattresses and over 2500 blankets.

In the town of Jebaliya, residents whose homes had been destroyed have set up a tented city. They were happy to receive bedding for their tents. But one man said that all he really wants is a home.

Jumma Dardona, displaced Gazan, said, "The future has become unknown for us. All of these tents, clothes, blankets, even the cheques, do not mean anything. A proper house is all we need."

Hamas Social Affairs Minister in Gaza, Ahmed al-Kurd, also visited the camp to hand out cheques to residents. He said aid or help with reconstruction could not be given with any political preconditions.

Ahmed Al-kurd, Hamas social affairs minister in Gaza, said, "What they didn't achieve by the siege or the war they will not achieve by sending us flour bags or by helping in reconstruction, or with any humanitarian relief."

But many Gazans have complained about the slow pace of urgently needed aid.

The UN Relief and Works Agency's Director of Operations in Gaza says thousands of tons of supplies are not reaching Gaza. John Ging has also said that without a full opening of the border, the rebuilding of thousands of homes is impossible.

The UN Relief and Works Agency is the biggest aid organization in Gaza. It is responsible for one million refugees and their descendants, out of a population of 1.4 million.

Editor:Zhang Yun