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In Gaza, UN Humanitarian Envoy meets Palestinian children

In Gaza, UN Humanitarian Envoy meets Palestinian children

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan's Personal Humanitarian Envoy today visited relief projects targeting women and children in Gaza.

Catherine Bertini heard the concerns of youngsters from the area while attending a "Children's Parliament" run for Palestinian student leaders by the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF).

The Envoy then went to Khan Yunis, where she spoke to Palestinian families especially hard hit by the current crisis. She also visited Rafah, on the southern tip of the strip, touring a women's centre run by the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

Ms. Bertini and her team then returned to Jerusalem for meetings with representatives of the international donor community.

The Envoy is scheduled to travel to the northern part of the West Bank on Saturday, and to meet on Sunday with top-ranking Israeli officials, including Foreign Minister Shimon Peres, Defence Minister Binyamin Ben Eliezer, and Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.