The U.N.'s top humanitarian official on Tuesday finished a four day visit to the occupied Palestinian territories by calling on Israel to lift its blockade of the Gaza Strip saying that it is crippling everyday life there. Valerie Amos, Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, said the almost four year blockade "has resulted in a stifling of economic activity and a serious decline in education, healthcare and water and sanitation services." As a result of the sea, air and land blockade, she noted that more than 1.1 million Gazans are dependent on food aid. "Civilians have been hit hardest by the impact of the policy of restrictions and have had to endure unnecessary humanitarian suffering," Amos said and she called for "an end to the man-made and protracted humanitarian situation through a lifting of the blockade on Gaza."
