Calling the Israeli bombing of the Gaza power plant “a disastrous act”, United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator Jan Egeland today warned of dire circumstances if the 1.4 million people living in Gaza do not get regular humanitarian aid soon. “Some of the population is totally without electricity and water, which increases diarrhea, which increases disease, which increases anger,” said Egeland, as he described the scant electricity and gasoline that is coming through to Palestine. The fuel allowed in is allocated for backup generators to maintain sewage pumps and the hospital. “But these backup generators are for short-term use, for emergency use only,” said Egeland. OCHA, the U.N. agency for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, made a $385 million appeal for the Palestinian Occupied Territories for 2006, but as of today have only received 31 percent, or $117 million, towards the U.N. relief work, said Egeland.
