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Cross-country drive on 2 gallons of gas
UNITED NATIONS, June 20 (UPI) -- Trying to head off an imminent food shortage after fighting in Gaza, the World Food Program has begun delivering 500,000 pounds of food there.
"There is a serious humanitarian crisis developing in Gaza as a result of the recent turmoil and closure of the border crossings," said Arnold Vercken, the WFP director for the Palestinian territory Wednesday. "It is crucial that food and other humanitarian assistance continue to reach the increasingly desperate population."
The trucks were crossing into Gaza through a southern border crossing in Israel that was recently opened for emergency relief supplies, according to a World Food Program statement issued in Jerusalem.
Hamas militants took over the Gaza strip last week after fighting dismantled the Fatah-dominated security and government institutions.
Tuesday, a World Food Program convoy carrying 440,000 pounds of food and one truckload of medical goods supplied by the World Health Organization reached Gaza.
Commercial food stocks are quickly being depleted in the area and the population of 1.4 million has been affected by the closures, violence, and the inability to go to work, the statement said. Some 80 percent of the population rely on food aid from U.N. agencies.
The World Food Program says there are still logistical and security
challenges to providing such assistance.
Michele Montas, spokeswoman to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, said the WFP would like to increase food delivery amounts to 10 trucks a day.
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Carolyn Nardiello
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