GAZA, April 13 (AFP) - The UN agency for Palestinian refugees said Tuesday that it had resumed aid distribution in the Gaza Strip which was suspended a fortnight ago because of Israeli restrictions on the movement of staff and supplies.
Peter Hansen, the head of the UN relief and works agency (UNRWA), told reporters in Gaza City that the problems had been resolved after talks with the Israeli government and army.

Announcing the suspension on March 30, Hansen had said the agency was unable to cope with the impact of increased Israeli security at crossing points.

Hansen also said Tuesday that UNRWA had received just 70 million out of the 193 million dollars in emergency aid pledged by the international community for 2004.

The World Food Programme estimates that 150,000 people in Gaza are dependent on food aid, while UNRWA provides assistance to more than 90,000 people in Gaza and the West Bank, territories which are both occupied by Israel.

mab-ezz/co/jm AFP 131647 GMT 04 04

Copyright (c) 2004 Agence France-Presse
Received by NewsEdge Insight: 04/13/2004 12:49:02