Energy situation in Gaza could deepen crisis, UN official warns

All parties in the Palestinian territory are being urged by the UN to come together to avoid another major humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Robert Piper, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) made the appeal on Friday.

It's been five weeks since the shutdown of the Gaza Power Plant.

The UN Humanitarian Coordinator for the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) has added his voice to the chorus of those calling for a resolution to the electricity crisis in Gaza, where the sole power plant has run out of fuel.

The situation may deteriorate further and could deepen the existing energy crisis, Peter Piper warned.

The 1.7 million residents living in the Strip are experiencing power outages for several hours every day.

This is affecting the supply of safe drinking water, the treatment and management of sewage and the availability of health services, he said.

Meanwhile, an independent UN expert said on Friday that there was "no end in sight to the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territory or oPt".

Michael Lynk, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories made the remarks after a five-day mission to Amman, Jordan, where he met with human rights groups, UN officials and senior Palestinian government officials to discuss the human rights situation in the oPt.

Five decades later, Israel is showing "many signs" of wanting to stay in the oPt permanently, he said.

Highlighting the "systemic human rights violations" that accompany this occupation, Mr. Lynk recalled that under international law, occupations are inherently temporary and short-term.

Israel has not permitted the Special Rapporteur to visit the Palestinian territory since he was appointed by the UN in May 2016.


SOURCE: Jocelyne Sambira, United Nations.