UNRWA
Press Release

East Jerusalem
04 Feb 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

UNRWA CONDEMNS CONFISCATION OF GAZA AID AND DEMANDS ITS IMMEDIATE RETURN

At 1430 on 3 February over 3,500 blankets and 406 food parcels were
confiscated from a distribution store at Beach Camp in Gaza by police
personnel. This took place after UNRWA staff had earlier refused to hand
over the aid supplies to the Hamas-run Ministry of Social Affairs. The
police subsequently broke into the warehouse and seized the aid by force.
The aid was due to be distributed to five hundred families in the area.

UNRWA condemns in the strongest terms the confiscation of its aid supplies
and has demanded that it is returned immediately. UNRWA has a strict system
of monitoring aid delivery and ensuring that its assistance reaches only the
intended beneficiaries. Our officials were on the ground overseeing the
delivery of our aid and taking all possible steps to avoid its diversion.

For more information please contact:
Christopher Gunness
UNRWA Spokesperson
Mobile: +972-(0)54-240-2659
Office: +972-(0)2-589-0267
Sami Mshasha
UNRWA Arabic Spokesperson
Mobile: +972-(0)54-216-8295
Office: +972 (0)2-589-0724

-Ends-