The United States will make an emergency contribution of US$20.3 million for humanitarian assistance in the Gaza Strip, the White House announced on Friday.

"The Obama administration today announced an emergency contribution of more than US$20 million to relief efforts in Gaza as part of the Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance Fund," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said.

The money will go to UN agencies and the International Committee of the Red Cross, which are distributing in Gaza emergency food assistance, providing medical care and temporary shelter, creating temporary employment and restoring access to electricity and potable water, according to statement by the State Department.

Some 1,400 Palestinians were reportedly killed and 5,500 others wounded in the Israeli aerial and ground strikes since December 27, 2008.

The latest offensive by Israelis was to halt years of Hamas rocket fire on southern Israel.