SG/SM/8537

                                                  2 December 2002

SECRETARY-GENERAL CALLS FOR THOROUGH INVESTIGATION OF ISRAEL’S

DEMOLITION OF WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME WAREHOUSE

     The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

     The Secretary-General is extremely concerned at the demolition by the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) of the World Food Programme warehouse on Saturday night in the northern part of the Gaza Strip.  He supports the request by the World Food Programme that the Government of Israel thoroughly investigate this incident.

     The Secretary-General once again calls on the Israeli authorities to live up to their commitments and obligations to facilitate emergency humanitarian assistance in the occupied Palestinian territory.

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