A group of almost 40 United Nations and other non-governmental agencies have issued a statement demanding the immediate end of the blockade of Gaza. The statement, issued on the second anniversary of the blockade, says that the amount of goods allowed into Gaza is almost one-quarter the pre-blockade flow and that food deliveries are restricted to “a mere 18 items.” The majority of aid trucks allowed into Gaza are food deliveries as Israel has severely limited the type of goods it allows enter the Strip. Reconstruction materials such as cement, windows and plumbing piping are barred from entry and work has yet to begin on rebuilding the thousands of homes damaged and destroyed from Israel's devastating three-week invasion earlier this year. Clothes, toys, shoes and school books are also often barred. “The blockade of the Gaza Strip is creating an atmosphere of deprivation in Gaza that can only deepen the sense of hopelessness and despair among people. The people of Gaza need to be shown an alternative of hope and dignity,” the statement said.
