On Wednesday, 23 July 2008, Mr. Raji Sourani, Director of PCHR, met at
PCHR’s office in Gaza with Mr. Philippe Lazzarini, Head the United Nations
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, and staff members of the office. Mr. Sourani briefed
the guest on the human rights situation in the OPT, especially in the Gaza
Strip, and stressed that humanitarian conditions have not imposed more than
a month after the Egypt-brokered truce between Palestinian resistance groups
and Israeli had entered into force. Restrictions imposed on the movement of
civilians and the flow of goods and humanitarian needs through border
crossings have not been eased, Mr. Sourani asserted.
In the period 21-23 July 2008, PCHR hosted a delegation from the
Basque-Spain comprised of 9 human rights defenders, who have been in a
solidarity visit to the OPT. Members of the delegation met with
representatives of political factions and with Mr. Joh Ging, Director of
UNRWA Field Office in Gaza. They also visited offices of a number of civil
society organizations and some summer camps in the Gaza Strip. Ms. Lidon
Soriano, head of the delegation, expressed her deep sorrow for the
disastrous living conditions in the Gaza Strip, which, she asserted, are
much worse than how they were during her last visit to the Gaza Strip last
year.
