MIDDLE EAST:The European Commission has suspended humanitarian aid to Gaza because of "suicidal" fighting among Palestinian factions and will only resume it if violence stops, the EU's top aid official said yesterday.
"The humanitarian situation is catastrophic; we have had to withdraw our [ aid] operators," said European aid and development commissioner Louis Michel. "It's dramatic and it's unacceptable."
Speaking of the fighting, he said: "The belligerents must understand that this is suicidal."
Last year, the EU executive provided €84 million in humanitarian aid to the Palestinian territories and €60 million has been earmarked so far for this year.
Asked what it would take for the commission aid staff to go back to Gaza, Mr Michel said: "Security."