Turkish deputy minister meets UN officials in Jerusalem

By Turgut Alp Boyraz

JERUSALEM

Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Ambassador Ahmet Yildiz met officials of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency in Jerusalem Wednesday to assess the situation of Palestinians at refugee camps.

Yildiz assured Palestinians of Turkey’s continued support.

"We support all efforts for a permanent solution to Palestine issue but we will continue to help Palestinian refugees and people who are adversely affected by the occupation until the solution is achieved," the Turkish diplomat said.

UNRWA Commissioner-General Pierre Krahenbuhl said out of 270,000 students in Gaza, 90 percent have never been able to leave the city.

"The healthcare sector faces a disastrous situation as well; scores of people are unable to get treatment in Gaza and yet they are not allowed to leave the city, which is like a deferred death penalty," Krahenbuhl said.

He also praised Turkey’s support for the people of Gaza. "I find Turkish efforts here very valuable; Turkey has developed a respectable working tradition here," he said.

The UNRWA was established in 1949 by the UN -- following the establishment of Israel -- to provide aid to some five million Palestinian refugees in Jordan, Syria and Lebanon, and in Israeli-occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Home to nearly two million Palestinians, the Gaza Strip has been reeling under a crippling Israeli blockade since 2007.