GAZA: Universities closed after fuel cut

20 April 2008

The Gaza Strip's four main universities shut down last Monday after officials said students could not get to class because of critical fuel shortages, reports Associated Press. University officials said attendance rates were down by at least 60%, prompting the closure. It affected more than 45,000 students and was expected to last four days. Officials said they would put together an emergency education plan that could include conducting some lectures over the internet and radio.

"This is a genuine crisis," said Ali al-Najjar, an official from Azhar University, which is affiliated with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement.

The Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip is suffering crushing fuel shortages. Israel is Gaza's sole fuel provider and, in recent months, the Jewish state has reduced supplies to try to pressure Palestinian militants to halt their rocket fire into southern Israel.
Full report on the Associated Press site

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