HELSINKI: The European Union on Friday called for the border between Gaza and Egypt to be opened, saying it was deeply concerned by the poor conditions facing Palestinians stranded there. Israel has blockaded Gaza after the abduction of an Israeli soldier during an attack on a military post at the end of June. We demand the opening of the frontiers for humanitarian aid and for the people stranded on the Egyptian side of the border to be able to return to their homes, Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency, told a news conference. I have heard that there may have been also already some casualties among the hundreds of Palestinians stranded [on the Egyptian border], he said. He said aid shipments to Gaza this week had been moderately successful, delivering 300,000 liters of oil for Palestinian hospitals. Aid agencies working in Gaza have warned that the territory is on the brink of a humanitarian disaster. Aid donor countries were due on Friday to meet in Geneva to discuss the situation in Gaza. Much of $383 million (LE 2.2 billion) of emergency funding requested by the United Nations for the Palestinians has yet to be found. Helsinki announced on Friday it was contributing $2 million (1.6 million euros) in emergency aid. The EU announced it was contributing $63 million (50 million euros). The needs have grown hugely but apart from the fact that deliveries do not get through, there is a need for more resources, Tuomioja said. In a statement issued on Thursday Tuomioja appealed for calm amid the escalating violence in the Middle East. Unfortunately one of the greatest un-learnt lessons in the region is that the vicious circle of violence based on the old principle of an eye for an eye, or in today s version 20 eyes for one eye, cannot serve anyone s legitimate longer-term security interests, Tuomioja said. AFP
EU demands opening of Egypt-Gaza border for aid
