TOKYO: Frustration among refugees in Gaza has reached "bursting point" with further unrest likely unless Israel lifts its blockade against them immediately, the head of a UN aid body said Friday.
Filippo Grandi, commissioner-general of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), also told reporters in Tokyo the UN body faces financial crisis, calling for more support from Japan and world donors.
"The Gaza strip has reached bursting point and the risk of further incidents is likely unless the blockade is lifted," said Grandi of the three-year blockade by Israel after Hamas took control of the area in 2007.
The May 31 incident when Israeli commandos raided a Turkish ship leading an activist aid flotilla to the Gaza Strip, killing nine, "opened the eyes of the world to the fact that the blockade is really counterproductive," he said.
"The blockade must be lifted so that life in Gaza can go back to some form of normality," he said, describing the region’s devastated economy and shortage of fundamental requirements such as clean water and electricity.
There is mounting "frustration among the refugees, because they don’t see their problems solved," Grandi said.
"I can assure you, the refugees will become restless and there will be demonstrations," with potentially "radical movements" set to take advantage, he said.
The blockade has destroyed Gaza’s private sector economy completely, with tens of thousands of small but efficient manufacturers disappearing, he added.
Grandi also said that the financial woes of the UNRWA, which provides assistance in education, medicine and other basic services for Palestinian refugees, is adding to the frustration.
"The UNRWA is going to face a very serious, dangerous financial crisis," and is short of around $100 million to fulfill even its most basic functions, he said.
"Because there is no money, the frustration will increase in this important constituency" and pose a risk to the peace process, he said.
His main purpose of visiting Japan is to ask for more financial support for the UNRWA, he said, noting Japan’s contribution declined from $10 million in 2000 to $2 million this year.
