UN begins distributing fuel to counter Gaza crisis

GAZA CITY (AFP) -- The United Nations on Thursday began distributing fuel in Gaza to keep critical infrastructure running as fears of a health crisis grow over accumulating rubbish and sewage, a UN official said.

"Fuel is actually coming in, as of today, through the Kerem Shalom (goods crossing with Israel), purchased by UNRWA and distributed by the UN," the organization's Middle East special coordinator Robert Serry told a news conference in northern Gaza.

"That doesn't resolve the fuel crisis in Gaza, but it does provide a safety net, we hope, for the coming two to three months for those critical installations here," he added.

Serry's announcement came as the Islamist Hamas-run Palestinian territory suffers the most serious fuel crisis in its history, with daily power outages of up to 16 hours.

Hospitals, water and sanitation plants, businesses and private homes are all being hit. more

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