29th January 2009 - UN launches $613m appeal for Gaza (BBC)

Ban Ki-Moon, U.N. General Secretary, shocked by what he has seen in Gaza, has launched a $613 million appeal for humanitarian aid, following Israel's offensive in the strip. "The Israeli offensive in Gaza killed about 1,300 Palestinians, of whom 412 were children; 21,000 homes were destroyed or badly damaged. Thirteen Israelis were killed during the three weeks of violence. "