UPDATED ON:
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
17:33 Mecca time, 14:33 GMT
News Middle East
UN chief visits Gaza, urges probe
Palestinians say 25,000 buildings were damaged
or destroyed in Israel's assault on Gaza [EPA]
Ban Ki-moon, the secretary-general of the United Nations, has demanded a "full
investigation" into Israel's bombing of a UN compound in Gaza City.
Speaking during an official visit to the Palestinian enclave on Tuesday, he
condemned the attack on the UN complex as "outrageous" and "totally
unacceptable".
"It is particularly significant for a secretary-general of the UN to stand in
front of this bomb site of the UN compound," he said.
"I am just appalled and not able to describe how I am feeling having seen this
... it's an outrageous and totally unacceptable attack against the UN. I have
protested many times, and I protest again in the strongest terms."
Ban called for a "full investigation" into the incident to make those
responsible for the attack "accountable".
He also announced he was sending a high-level delegation to oversee
humanitarian support for Gazans and assist with the rebuilding effort following
Israel's three-week offensive.
Ban is the highest-ranking official to visit Gaza since Israel and Hamas
declared separate, unilateral ceasefires on Sunday.
'Shocking' devastation
Ban stressed "the UN and the international community will support and help you
[Gazans] to overcome" the devastation, which he described as "shocking and
alarming".
While Ban reiterated his condemnation of Israel's "excessive use of force", he
was careful to underline that he believes rocket attacks on Israel by Gazan
fighters are also "unacceptable".
In video
Unearthing Gaza's destruction
Israel's scorched earth tactics
Israel had said the aim of its operations in Gaza was to cripple Hamas's
ability to launch rockets into the south of the country.
Ban urged Palestinians factions to unite to allow the international community,
including the UN, to help broker a lasting peace deal between Israel and the
Palestinians.
However, while offering to do "all [he] can as secretary-general of the UN to
help in this time of need", Ban is not expected to meet Hamas officials during
this visit.
Ayman Mohyeldin, Al Jazeera's correspondent in Gaza, said because much of the
international community, including the US and the European Union, regard Hamas
as a "terrorist organisation", it would be political difficult for the UN chief
to hold direct talks with Hamas officials.
Hamas won parliamentary elections in 2006 which were internationally recognised
as being both fair and free.
Rebuilding Gaza's devastated infrastructure is expected to cost billions of US
dollars.
Without supplies
John Holmes, the UN humanitarian chief, says hundreds of millions of dollars in
emergency aid supplies will be needed for the people of Gaza.
Although water supplies were restored to many Gazan homes as of Sunday, 400,000
were still without running water, Holmes said.
GAZA TOLL
At least 1,300 people killed, including more than 400 children and more than
100 women
At least 5,300 Palestinians injured, including nearly 1,900 children and 800
women
At least 100,000 people forced from their homes
At least 13 Israelis killed, including three civilians
Electricity in Gaza is available for less than half the day and around 100,000
people have been left homeless by the war.
Scores of bodies have been discovered in the rubble of destroyed buildings
since both sides declared unilateral ceasefires on Sunday.
Palestinians returning to their neighbourhoods have begun to unearth the true
scale of destruction.
Mohyeldin reported that the World Health Organisation had issued a warning of
an outbreak of disease as weeks-old bodies remain unburied and sewage continues
to flow in many areas because of the destruction of Gaza's infrastructure.
The deposed Hamas-led government in Gaza estimates that more than 5,000
buildings were completely destroyed and another 20,000 damaged or partially
destroyed in the fighting.
Despite the three-week Israeli onslaught that killed more than 1,300
Palestinians and destroyed thousands of buildings, Hamas and other Palestinian
factions have claimed victory in the fighting.
Source: Al Jazeera and agencies
---------------
Jusfiq Hadjar gelar Sutan Maradjo Lelo
Allah yang disembah orang Islam tipikal dan yang digambarkan oleh al-Mushaf itu
dungu, buas, kejam, keji, ganas, zalim lagi biadab hanyalah Allah fiktif.
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