The United Nations has made an unprecedented appeal for funds to help alleviate the deepening humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian territories.

The UN is asking donors for $385m (£205m) - an increase of 80% on the budget earmarked for 2006.

Officials say the problem is the result of sanctions against the new Hamas-led government, as well as Israeli restrictions on Palestinian movement.

The new Palestinian government has not paid its employees since March.

Around a million Palestinians, including policemen, teachers and doctors, are dependent upon the Palestinian Authority for their wages.

Some Palestinians have already begun selling their belongings to survive. Others are cutting back on what they eat.

Temporary measure

The UN says it is launching the appeal because of desperate need.

It wants the extra money for food aid and medical supplies as well as for emergency employment programmes.

But David Shearer, the UN's humanitarian co-ordinator for the Palestinian territories, says this is only a stop-gap measure.

"To be honest, humanitarian assistance is not going to stop the slide of what is going on here.

"It's simply just going to soften the situation or help those people who are most vulnerable now, but inevitably, the economic situation and the problems with the services is going to continue and we can't do very much about it."

The UN says it is in the interest of the international community to help.

Officials fear that growing desperation among the Palestinians will lead to more violence.

Photo Caption

A Palestinian family loads up their car with crucial food supplies from the UN