FOOD AID TO PALESTINIAN REFUGEES IN GAZA

Early day motion 1080, tabled 28 April 2004 by Lynne Jones (Labour). Signed by 54 members.

That this House notes that the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) emergency food programme for the Gaza Strip, where 80 per cent. of the population are refugees living below the poverty line, was suspended on 1st April following restrictions imposed by the Israeli authorities on moving out empty food containers; notes that this caused UNRWA a bottleneck that prevented 11,000 tons of food from being delivered costing the Agency $13,000 in fees; is relieved that the distribution of emergency food aid in Gaza recommenced on 21st April and that UNRWA has enough food in Gaza to provide for the needs of refugees for the next 30 days; remains deeply concerned however about UNRWA's statement that the future of the emergency food programme remains in doubt because the Israeli authorities are insisting that holes be drilled in the two-inch wall cavities of food containers leaving Gaza, to allow searching by mini-camera but that these containers are not the property of UNRWA and such procedures will add to the costs and cause delays in providing food assistance to the needy; is aware of the statement on behalf of the Israeli Government that suicide bombers had used food containers for hiding in but supports UNRWA's response that Israel's legitimate, and serious, security concerns will not be served by hindering the emergency relief work of the United Nations; and therefore calls on the United Kingdom Government to make urgent representations to the Israeli Government and the US Administration to secure unhindered movement of UN food supplies to Gaza.

Signatures by party: Labour 36, Liberal Democrat 12, Labour/Co-operative 4, Plaid Cymru 2.