It is interesting in how Hamas deals with UN aid. it seems it thinks that the UN cant decide on who needs the aid, but has decided to give its fighters to reward them or even worse sell it to buy more ammunitons. I wonder what Hamas will do with the aid monies.
A clear example of what Hamas thinks of its poor people.
UN slams Hamas aid confiscationFont Size: Decrease Increase Print Page: Print From correspondents in the United Nations | February 05, 2009 Article from: Agence France-Presse UN humanitarian chief John Holmes has slammed as unacceptable the confiscation of UN aid supplies by Hamas personnel in the Gaza Strip and demanded that the aid be returned immediately.
"The United Nations cannot accept under any circumstances the diversion of aid by a party to a conflict," Mr Holmes said today.
He warned that such actions could jeopardise delivery of aid at a time when the world body and its partners were doing their best to meet the basic humanitarian needs of Gaza's 1.5 million people still reeling from a recent Israeli military onslaught.
More than 1330 Palestinians were killed, more than 5400 wounded while about 4000 homes were destroyed and tens of thousands more were damaged during the 22-day offensive which Israel launched on December 27 to stop rocket firing by Gaza-based militants.
"To ensure the access of civilians in Gaza to life-saving assistance and the sustained delivery of aid and essential reconstruction supplies, I call on all parties to respect the neutrality and independence of aid workers, supplies and facilities," said Mr Holmes, the UN emergency relief coordinator.
Early today, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) said Hamas had seized hundreds of food parcels and thousands of blankets destined for Gaza civilians in the wake of Israel's war.
The Hamas government's social affairs minister Ahmed al-Kurd implicitly confirmed the aid was seized, arguing that it should be distributed to a wider section of the Gaza population and not only those who hold refugee status and benefit from UNRWA assistance.
The Hamas government "is the main party responsible for the distribution and supervision of this aid in an equitable manner. We are responsible for the 1.5 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip", he said. "We reject any discriminatory distinction."
Palestinian prime minister Salam Fayyad yesterday announced a $US600 million ($920.7 million) aid program financed by donors to help rebuild Gaza.
