U.N. official: Gaza embargo helps Hamas

GAZA, Nov. 8 (UPI) -- The head of the U.N. relief agency said the Israeli blockade of Gaza is only helping extremists there.

Karen Koning AbuZayd, commissioner of the U.N. Relief and Works Agency, said that the embargo hurts the entire population of Gaza, not just the minority who support Hamas, WAFA reported.

"The main commercial crossings into Gaza from Israel and Egypt have been closed since June, so there are no imports, exports, and there isn't even enough cash being brought in which has made living very difficult," she said.

While the U.N. agency is able to bring in basic food and medical supplies through two military crossings, the people of Gaza are restricted to a diet barely adequate to sustain life, she said. Farmers have been unable to get produce to market, so fruit and vegetables rot in the fields while the people get relief supplies of flour, oil, sugar and lentils.

Supplies of 91 drugs have been completely exhausted she said, compared to 61 last month.