Irish aid chief speaks out as 40 die in UN school
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THE Irishman leading the UN relief effort in Gaza yesterday condemned an Israeli artillery strike on a United Nations school which has resulted in at least 40 deaths.
John Ging, director of operations in Gaza for UNRWA, the UN's Relief and Works Agency, said the school in Jabalya refugee camp was clearly marked with a UN flag and co-ordinates identifying its exact location had been reported to Israeli authorities.
Mr Ging said: "It is a built-up area so it was entirely inevitable if shells landed that there would be a high number of casualties."
Medics estimated the number of injured as in excess of 55, some critically.
Mr Ging said UNRWA regularly provided the Israeli army with co-ordinates of its installations but despite this "these tragedies have occurred".
The Israeli military said it was looking into the incident but that, according to initial checks, its soldiers came under mortar fire from militants inside the school.
Meanwhile, Irish human rights activist Caiomhe Butterly, who is on board the ship Dignity with the Free Gaza Movement, said there was a desperate need to get supplies to the region's nine hospitals.
Speaking shortly before the ship was turned away, she said: "We are not asking Israel for permission to go, and we will not stop until the Dignity lands in Gaza."
- Grainne Cunningham
