Resumption of power supplies to Gaza welcomed by UN rights experts

GENEVA, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- UN human rights experts on Wednesday welcomed the announcement that power cuts imposed on Gaza for the past six months are being lifted, but cautioned much more must be done to alleviate the human suffering in Gaza.

They issued a statement noting that at the request of the Palestinian Authority, Israel on Jan. 7 began to resupply Gaza with 50 megawatts (MW) of power, which it had suspended in June last year.

"This restoration of the pre-June 2017 levels of electricity will ease the suffering of the two million inhabitants of Gaza," said the UN Special Rapporteur for the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, Michael Lynk. "Over the past six months, Gazans have had access to power for only approximately four hours daily, and often less."

He said, however, that more is needed to ease the plight of Gazans, calling on Israel, the Palestinian Authority, as well the authorities in Gaza, to restore the conditions to allow a full supply of electricity to all the inhabitants there.

"We also urge Israel, the occupying power, to end its decade-long blockade of Gaza," Lynk said.

The electricity cut left homes without power to run basic appliances; workplaces were closed or reduced their productive hours; hospitals were shuttered and health care services were significantly reduced.

The UN expert also noted that hospital operating theaters dependent on generators and Gaza's sewerage plant could not operate, resulting in more than 100 million liters of raw sewage being dumped daily into the Mediterranean.

"Deprivation of electricity and other basic services essential to a life of dignity and well-being violates the right to housing," said Leilani Farha, the Special Rapporteur on the right to housing. "This deprivation of power amounts to collective punishment of the Gazan population. This is illegal under international law." Enditem