NGO Actions News
April 2008 No. 12 (162)
Israel/Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem
Gisha: Legal Center for Freedom of Movement issued a press release on 14 April 2008 calling for “Resumption of Fuel Supplies to Gaza”. The Center appealed the day before to Israel Defense Minister to restore fuel supplies to the Gaza Strip via Nahal Oz, the only crossing through which Israel permits Gaza residents to purchase fuel. Gisha warned in a letter that Gaza’a power plant was exhausting its usable reserves and might have to reduce production if supply is not restored. According to the organization, “while Israel mostly allowed supply through Nahal Oz until last week, since October 207, it has drastically restricted the quantity permitted to enter Gaza. The restrictions have created chronic shortages that leave civilian institutions such as hospitals, water wells, and Gaza’s power plant vulnerable even to brief supply interruptions of a few days, because fuel reserves are so low”. Gisha also provides facts bout Israel’s fuel cuts to Gaza. For further information, visit the web site: http://www.gisha.org
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) issued a press release on 14 April entitled “Gaza fuel cuts paralyse education, health and transport section”, expressing concern about the continued Israeli ban on fuel supplies required for civilian life in the Gaza Strip. The stoppage in fuel supplies has paralysed 50% of the educational sector. In addition, educational sector employees have been unable to reach their work. Furthermore, the transportation sector has nearly stopped functioning throughout the Gaza Strip. As a result, all basic functions of civilian life have come to a near standstill, including drinking water delivery, sewage water disposal, and garbage collection. For further information, visit the web site: http://www.pchrgaza.org
Public Committee Against Torture in Israel (PCATI) issued a report on 14 April 2008 entitled “Family Matters, Using Family Members to Pressure Detainees”, which includes a sampling of six cases involving exploitation of family members. For further information, visit the web site: http://www.stopthetorture.org.il
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People will hold the UN International Conference on Palestine Refugees on 29 and 30 April 2008, at UNESCO Headquarters, in Paris. The objective of the Conference is to assess the present situation of Palestine refugees and examine the role of the United Nations in alleviating their plight. It will also examine efforts at finding an agreed, just and fair solution to the refugee issue in keeping with relevant United Nations resolutions as a prerequisite for resolving the question of Palestine and achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East. For further information, visit the web site: http://www.un.org/dpts/dpa/ngo/index.html
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The NGO Action News is a bi-weekly newsletter issued by the Division for Palestinian Rights of the United Nations Secretariat and intended to provide information on worldwide NGO activities relevant to the question of Palestine. Organizations interested in sharing information about their activities through this newsletter may contact the Division for Palestinian Rights at:
United Nations Headquarters Phone: (212) 963-1550
Room S-3350 Fax: (212) 963-4199
New York, NY 10017 E-mail: dprngo@un.org
Please be advised that the final decision with regard to selecting material for inclusion in the newsletter rests with the Division for Palestinian Rights. The Division cannot take responsibility for the accuracy of the information provided to it by contributing organizations.