After a decade of study and argument in Washington, the 1986 law emerged as a mixture of humanitarian and restrictive measures.

The statement added: "Both sides agreed on the importance of continued relief activities and other humanitarian confidence-building measures."

By any measure - medical, diplomatic, humanitarian - it stands as one of the great accomplishments of the last century.

The need for urgent, humanitarian measures to alleviate the hardship is clear.

Israel is more likely to move on humanitarian measures like this than to ease financial pressures on the Palestinian leadership.

Washington has defended its decision to loosen the embargo as a humanitarian measure to alleviate suffering and prevent the destruction of the Haitian economy.

Moreover, the Council is urging the parties to take a number of urgent, humanitarian measures, such as permitting family visits and liberating political prisoners.

Now I will turn to the humanitarian measures.

People are demanding safety, in the knowledge that this does not preclude humanitarian and solidarity measures.

In view of the existence of such crises only an integrated approach to coordinate political, economic, military and humanitarian measures can ensure success.