RAFAH CROSSING REMAINS CLOSED FOR 11TH DAY
Gaza City, 4 Rabi’ul Awwal 1435/6 January 2014 (MINA) – The General Administration of Crossings stated on Sunday that Rafah crossing has remained closed for the eleventh day in a row by the Egyptian authorities until further notice.
Maher Abu Sabha, director of crossings and borders in Gaza, anticipated that the Egyptian authorities will open Rafah border crossing on Tuesday, ALRAY, Palestinian Media Agency melaporkan sebagaimana dikutip Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA).
“The Egyptians did promise to open the Rafah border crossing during the coming days, and I expect that it will be opened in Tuesday,” said Abu Sabha.
He pointed out that the crossings committee is in contact with the Egyptian side to ease the movement of the Palestinian travellers, and to end the crisis of the people strand in the besieged coastal enclave.
The Egyptian authorities have been closing the Rafah border crossing for 11 days consecutively. It was opened on Wednesday exceptionally to allow the Italian delegation get into the Gaza Strip.
He mentioned that the number of those who registered for travel at the ministry of Interior is up to 5000 which forced the authorities to close the registration .
The Egyptian authorities opened the crossing on Wednesday to allow the Italian delegation enter the Gaza Strip.
Egypt Bans Entry Of Lifeline To Gaza
Informed sources told Palestinian Information Center that the Egyptian authorities have not allowed International Lifeline Convoy to enter the Gaza Strip.
A delegation from Jordan Lifeline Committee of about 20 partisan figures is slated to participate in the international aid convoy to the Gaza Strip.
The convoy will also include about 100 international solidarity activists representing Miles of Smiles Campaign, the European al-Wafaa campaign, Ansar convoys, and the relief committees of Algeria, Libya, Bahrain, and Malaysia.
It aims to deliver aid to Gaza to alleviate the repercussions of the winter storm that hit the Strip recently.
A number of Arab and Islamic relief organizations and institutions have launched an emergency appeal calling upon the Egyptian government to open Rafah crossing, and urging the Egyptian relief committees and competent authorities to contribute in the relief efforts to help Gaza people.
A report that was issued by Gaza government has recently announced that the direct material losses of the stormy weather that hit the Strip were estimated at 64 million dollars. (T/P02/E1)
Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)
