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DUBAI (AlArabiya.net)

Palestinian officials warned of a humanitarian and environmental disaster in Gaza, due to a shortage of cement to build graves in which to bury the dead.

"The situation in Gaza is tragic," said Deputy Minister Abdullah Jarboa of the Palestinian Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs, according to Quds Press.

"The sick are not allowed to seek treatment outside, medicines are not allowed in, and there is no cement to build graves," Jarboa said.

After the Islamic Hamas movement took control of the poor and densely-populated enclave in mid-June, Israel closed the Gaza crossings to all but essential food products.

If the crossings remain closed and no more cement is allowed into the strip, a real crisis will take place, Jarboa warned.

He added that the Ministry builds one thousand graves every year, but there are few left and new ones need to be built.

According to Jarboa, many existing graves are in danger of erosion because they are built using tin sheets instead of concrete from the last time Gaza ran out of cement due to the Israeli blockade seven years ago.

Jerboa pleaded with the International Community, the Arab League, and the Organization of Islamic Conference to exert pressure on Israel to lift the embargo and allow food, medicine, and cement into the strip.