By NNN-KUNA,
Geneva : President of the Internnational Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Jacob Kellenberger has said that he is extremely worried over the humanitarian as well as the economic situation in the occupied Palestinian territories (oPt).
He told a news conference Tuesday that the economic situation is hampered by all kinds of obstacles for people to move and to pursue economic activities.
Addressing reporters to talk about the ICRC 2007 report, Kellenberger said that the Iraq situation, which is the second largest programme of his organisation, remains extremely difficult for lack of provisions of basic services.
He said that since the beginning of the year, the ICRC has made six budget extensions and has exceeded in 2008 so far the 2007 end of year budget with SFR 100 million by the end of this month.
In Somalia, he said, the ICRC has increased its budget by SFR 55 million to provide full food rations to half a million people over the next four months.
In Yemen, he said, the ICRC has extended its budget to cover the food rations for another 30,000 people.
Concerning the Gerida camp in Darfur, Kellnebrger said that the ICRC continues to provide food for 130,000 people which led to an extension in the Sudan budget of SFR 20 million.
He noted that the current food crisis leads to the increase of the number of people in need of food assistance, and also could lead to potential food-related-violence.
Sudan continues to be the largest operation of the ICRC, followed by Iraq then Somalia who has moved up from fifth position to third, followed by the oPt in fourth position.