The UN Security Council will hold a closed meeting later Monday to help end a worsening humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, a U.N. spokesperson said.

The 15-member council has scheduled the consultations at 3:30 p. m. (2030 GMT) in response to a call from the Arab League (AL) for an emergency session of the world body, Michele Montas said.

Earlier Monday, Arab ambassadors made the appeal at an emergency meeting in Cairo, Egypt and called on UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to refer a report on the Israeli practices in Gaza to the Security Council.

The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East warned Monday that it may be unable to continue its food distribution and other key operations in Gaza if the Israeli closure at Gaza's crossing points continues.

(Xinhua News Agency January 22, 2008)