Gazans stranded at Rafah border, North Sinai towns

[Tom Joad]

Comment: This is despicable!
________________________________

CAIRO, 24 June 2007 (IRIN) - Up to 2,500 residents of the Gaza Strip are stranded on the Egyptian side of the border crossing at Rafah and in the towns of al-Arish and Rafah in the North Sinai governorate, aid agencies say.

The border area between Egypt and the occupied Palestinian territories (OPT), which has been sealed off to media and tourists following an escalation in violence in Gaza, is continuing to host Palestinians unable either to cross to their home territory or return to Cairo. Many of the travellers are attempting to return following medical treatment in the Egyptian capital.

Rula Khalafawi, spokeswoman for the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) in Cairo, said that around 1,000 people are stranded at the border checkpoint itself, without means to afford accommodation in the nearby towns of Rafah or al-Arish.

"They are afraid to leave the border in case it opens and also do not have the money for hotels. They are out there by themselves in the desert," Khalafawi said.

The Rafah border has been frequently closed by Israeli authorities since violence in the Gaza Strip flared in the summer of 2006. Recent factional fighting has led to the pedestrian border crossing - which is a vital link for Gazans seeking employment, medical treatment and education outside the territory -- being closed since 9 June.

http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=72901
This item comes to you via IRIN, a UN humanitarian news and information service

[Behind the Aegis]

1. Closed by Egypt and Hamas (actually, it was more Hamas).

[pelsar]

2. the egyptians or hama?

Comment: This is despicable!

tom, you weren't clear on who your pissed off at...the egyptians or hamas?



gaza/egyptian border: june 28, 2007
Gaza's crossings with border countries Israel and Egypt, including the Rafah Crossings in the south, the Karni commercial passage in the center and the Erez Crossing in the north, have been closed since late last week when Hamas assumed full control over the Strip after five days of fighting with the rival Fatah party.

and this
"We don't have any control over the Rafah, ......," Erekat told a news conference in Ramallah. "There is no presence of the Palestinian Authority at any of these crossings," he said, referring to the fact that they were now in the hands of the unrecognized Hamas administration in Gaza.


http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/873220.html