Seven United Nations Agencies, along with a number of international charities, on Thursday reported that more than 1.6 million people "have been under blockade, with more than half of them children," UN spokesman Martin Nesirky told reporters here.

The report was contained in a statement signed by the UN agencies and the international charities that marks the fifth year since the start of the blockade in Gaza.

"The agencies say that more than 1.6 million people have been under blockade, with more than half of them children," Nesirky said. "The signatories called for an end to the blockade now."

In a separate statement, Valerie Amos, the UN under-secretary- general for humanitarian affairs, said that more than 80 percent of families in Gaza are dependent on humanitarian aid, and Gaza remains subject to severe restrictions on imports, exports and the movement of people, by land, air and sea.

"While some steps have been taken to ease its impact, Ms Amos said, it is vital that the blockade be lifted immediately, so that essential services and infrastructure can be maintained," the spokesman said.

"The opportunity to develop a sustainable economy would also reduce dependence on humanitarian assistance," he said.

"The closure continues to have a serious humanitarian impact on civilians and perpetuates an unsustainable and unacceptable situation for the population of Gaza," Nesirky said in a response to a press question on UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's position on the closure of Gaza.

The secretary-general "has repeatedly called for the lifting of the closure, in line with United Nations Security Council resolution 1860 (2009)," Nesirky said. "He has consistently urged the Government of Israel to allow the free movement of people into and out of Gaza, to further liberalize imports, in particular of construction materials, to allow exports and to maintain a flow of approvals for further reconstruction works."

"At the same time, he has also stated that Israel's legitimate security concerns should be addressed," the spokesman said. "These are all messages that the Secretary-General repeated when he visited Gaza in February."