Nuncio calls for humanitarian corridor in Gaza

December 30, 2008

Archbishop Antonio Franco, Apostolic Nuncio to Israel and Cyprus and Apostolic Delegate to Jerusalem and Palestine, yesterday called upon the international community to establish a humanitarian corridor to reach the victims of Israeli air attacks on Gaza. “Unfortunately we are watching as defenseless spectators with great sadness because this escalation of violence puts everything back into question after some progress had been made in the negotiations,” he said.

Deploring both Hamas rocket attacks and the Israeli attacks that have killed 300 in Gaza, Caritas Internationalis, the consortium of Catholic relief agencies, called for an immediate cease fire. Caritas Jerusalem's Secretary-General Claudette Habesch said, “Humanitarian operations have become difficult. Our work continues but movement inside Gaza has become dangerous because of the Israeli bombardments. Our staff can't reach our medical center but will try to help through hospitals that they can reach.” She added, “The bombardment comes on top of a growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with the Israeli closure of border crossings resulting in an acute lack of food and basic medical supplies.”

 

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Further information:

• As Offensive Continues, Humanitarian Crisis Looms in Gaza (Vatican Radio)
• Ceasefire vital to get humanitarian relief into Gaza (Caritas)
• Church officials say Gazans urgently need humanitarian corridor (CNS)