Gazans stockpile fuel as tunnel trade stops

31/01/2011

GAZA CITY (AFP) -- Gazans were on Sunday stockpiling fuel over fears that supplies from Egypt, which are brought in through smuggling tunnels, could be halted by the political unrest gripping the country, witnesses said.

The witnesses in the southern city of Rafah said the daily passage of goods through the cross-border tunnels had ground to a halt since Friday as the political unrest sweeping the country reached the Egyptian half of Rafah.

The majority of petrol and diesel supplies in Gaza are brought in through the tunnels, but the Hamas-run ministry of economy insisted there was no shortage and called for an end to panic-buying.

"There is enough fuel in the stores and enough food. We urge people not to worry about fuel or other goods," a ministry statement said.

The reports came as Palestinian officials said the Rafah crossing would remain closed because there was no-one to man the Egyptian side of the terminal.

More than 100 people have so far been killed in Egypt which is being rocked by the biggest protests to sweep the country in more than 30 years.

Demonstrators are demanding the removal of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak who has ruled the country since 1981.

Source: Ma'an News Agency.
Link: http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=355551.