Visiting Gaza for the first time since taking office as United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres has appealed to the international community to strongly support humanitarian aid in Gaza.

He ordered an immediate release of US$4 million from the limited resources of the Central Emergency Relief Fund, CERF, to support the UN activities working for the benefit of the Gaza people.

The two million people living in Gaza lack access to basic services, such as electricity, food or healthcare. The real gross domestic product, GDP, is largely stagnant, unemployment is up and the infrastructure and private sector have been gradually debilitated, according to a UN report published last month.

Given the current trends, Gaza would become "unliveable" by 2020, according to the report.

Speaking to reporters at a UN-supported school in northern Gaza, the Secretary-General appealed for Palestinian unity, saying division "only undermines the cause of the Palestinian people."

Mr. Guterres underscored the importance of a credible political process and actions to improve the living conditions of Palestinians, in line with the principles of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation, which include rejecting violence and terrorism, and recognising Israel's right to exist in peace.

"It is important to open the closures, in line with resolution 1860," he said, referring to the Security Council Resolution from 2009 which called for an immediate ceasefire to the fighting between Israel and Hamas and lifting of blockades for food, fuel and medicines.

Source: Wam