Wednesday, March 4, 2009

What Gets Into the Gaza Strip

BBC News, March 2, 2009 - Basic food and medical items are allowed in. Very few people and virtually no raw materials and building materials are allowed in.

Apart from a core list of humanitarian basics - fruit, dairy, flour, oil, sugar, meat, rice - items have to be approved on a case-by-case basis.

The list of items allowed in changes over time. During the six-month ceasefire in 2008, items such as clothes, shoes, car parts and agricultural supplies entered the Gaza Strip at times.

This has not been the case since the Israeli assault on Gaza started in late December 2008.

Since the conflict, shipments have mainly been limited to food, medical supplies, plastic sheeting, blankets, mattresses and hygiene and cooking kits.

The UN relief agency for Palestinian refugees says macaroni, lentils, fruit juice, sweets and paper for school books have been rejected in recent weeks. Israel says pasta, lentils and paper are now being allowed in....

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