The UN has suspended its operations in Gaza after Israeli shells smashed into its compound, setting fire to warehouses of badly-needed aid and prompting outrage from the UN chief Ban Ki-moon as he arrived in Israel. "Israeli tank shells fell inside the UN Relief and Works Agency complex in Gaza, injuring three of its employees," spokesman Adnan Abu Hasna said. "We have decided to suspend all our operations." According to another official of UNRWA, the UN's main agency for Palestinian refugees, one of the buildings set ablaze in the attack contained "hundreds of tonnes" of relief aid.
Chris Gunness, a Jerusalem-based spokesman for the agency, said hundreds of people had been taking refuge inside the compound when it was hit. "The building is on fire and we are unable to put it out. Five field vehicles are inside the compound," he said. The shelling of the UNRWA complex, on the 20th day of Israel's war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip, prompted a furious response from the UN secretary general who arrived in Israel today.
"I have conveyed my strong protest and outrage and demanded a full explanation from the defence minister and foreign minister," Ban told reporters in Tel Aviv. Ban said defence minister Ehud Barak had assured him the incident had been "a grave mistake" which was being taken "very seriously." "He assured me that extra caution will be given to UN facilities and staff and that this will not be repeated," he said.
The UNRWA compound had earlier today been damaged by shrapnel when another Israeli shell landed next to the complex, which is close to the Islamic University in the centre of Gaza City. Another humanitarian group, CARE International, said it too had been forced to suspend all deliveries of food and medical supplies due to heavy bombardment in and around its warehouses and distribution sites in Gaza City. * AFP
