1. Violence in the Gaza Strip has lately been escalated, causing a sharp increase in damage to civilians, especially women and children, and producing a large number of internal refugees. In response to this situation, the government of the Republic of Korea has decided to offer humanitarian assistance worth 1 million US dollars through the UN.

2. The international community, including the UN, has advised Israel and Palestine on two occasions to achieve a temporary cease-fire in order to improve the severe humanitarian situation of the refugees and had daily necessities distributed to Palestinian refugees on July 17 and 20. The international community, while urging the two sides to comply with the International Humanitarian Law, has been announcing plans for large-scale assistance.

3. The ROK government has decided to provide the humanitarian aid in consideration of various factors, including the humanitarian crisis in Palestine as well as international efforts to extend humanitarian aid and relevant developments. Despite its limited budget earmarked for humanitarian assistance, the ROK government will continue to increase humanitarian assistance and respond proactively to humanitarian crises of the international community. 


                              Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations of MOFA

* unofficial translation