Sri Lanka’s Parliament raises concerns over Gaza crisis
Sri Lanka’s Parliament today raised concerns over the crisis in Gaza and called for a special debate on the issue.
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa proposed that Parliament debate the crisis that has led to hundreds of deaths in Gaza.
He also called for peace talks between Israel and Palestine adding that apart from terrorism, State terrorism was also leading to hundreds of deaths.
The World Health Organization says it needs urgent access to Gaza to deliver aid and medical supplies, as it warns of a long-term humanitarian crisis.
About half of the 2,800 Palestinians killed were women and children, officials from WHO said in a briefing reported by the news agency Reuters. Another 11,000 have been injured in Gaza since the start of Israel’s retaliatory bombardments following Hamas’s deadly attacks.
The UN agency is meeting with “decision-makers” today to open access to Gaza as soon as possible – there’s currently no way in or out.
Officials further said there had been 115 attacks on healthcare facilities and the majority of hospitals in Gaza are not functioning, with water and electricity scarce.
“Concerns over dehydration and waterborne diseases are high given the collapse of water and sanitation services,” the UN Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA said in a statement. “People will start dying without water.” (Colombo Gazette)
With inputs from BBC
