GAZA, April 11 (Xinhua) -- An official of the United Nations Relief and Work Agency (UNRWA) voiced on Tuesday his concern over the worrying security and economic situation in the Gaza Strip. John Jing, UNRWA operation manager, told a news conference in Gaza City that the Gaza Strip is faced with a very difficult times and UNRWA is very much concerned about the situation here. Israel has been closing down main crossings on Gaza Strip border for most of the past three and a half months. Meanwhile, Israeli forces has escalated air and artillery strikes in Gaza for the past four days, killing at least 16 Palestinians.

    "I've just come back from a trip to the northern Gaza Strip. I visited UNRWA schools in Beit Hanaon and Beit Lahia and I met with parents and teachers and they all expressed great concern for the safety of their children due to ongoing bombing and shelling," said Jing.

    Israel said that "the operation Southern Arrow" was launched in response to the daily Palestinian militants' rocket attack on southern Israel.

    "We have the farmers protesting because they have not received any compensation for the culling of their poultry over the outbreak of bird flu," he said, adding that protests at delayed salary payments occurred in streets every evening.

    "The particular concern of the UNRWA is that Karni remains closed," said Jing.

    The Karni commercial crossing on the eastern Gaza border with Israel is the main cargo passage in and out of Gaza Strip. Jing, meanwhile, denied rumors that UNRWA would stop its aid to the Palestinians, adding that UNRWA has a mandate to offer services and aid to Palestinian refugees in the region. He also said that the European Union is still offering aids to the UNRWA despite the EU's decision to suspend direct aid to the cash-strapped Hamas-led government. Enditem