Gaza Health Ministry: UNRWA holding up shipments of medical supplies

September 3, 2009

Gaza – Ma’an – The Ministry of Health in the de facto government in Gaza accused the UN refugee relief agency UNRWA on Thursday of withholding a shipment of medical supplies and equipment for months.

In a statement, the de facto Ministry of Health said that "the seizure of drugs by UNRWA has affected the lives of thousands of patients who needed treatment and medicine urgently. Dozens of patients have died because of the lack of medicine and because of the ongoing [Israeli] siege."

Ma’an contacted UNRWA officials in Gaza who said they were preparing a response.

The statement continued, "A group of staff from the Ministry of Health went to receive the medicine which was in the UNRWA warehouses near the Karni crossing. There were large quantities of medicines and medical equipment with labels indicating they were designated for the Palestinian Ministry of Health and for Ash-Shifa Hospital in Gaza."

Kidney dialysis equipment and medications used to treat cancer were among the detained goods, the ministry of health said.

Israel’s two-year-old blockade of the Gaza Strip has causes shortages of critical medical supplies.

The ministry said this action was not befitting UNRWA’s otherwise impressive record as an organization. "We in the Ministry of Health condemn such behavior by UNRWA, an agency we have known for years, that has stood up and supported the Palestinian people and defend them in all international forums."

The statement went on to accuse UNRWA of complicity in the blockade of Gaza.

The Ministry of Health demanded that UNRWA hand over the materials as soon as possible.