United Nations and aid agencies make fresh appeal for Palestine

-09/06/06

The United Na


United Nations and aid agencies make fresh appeal for Palestine

-09/06/06

The United Nations and a number of NGOs (including churches) operating in occupied Palestinian territory have launched an emergency appeal for additional funding in the face of a deepening humanitarian crisis, reports Caritas ñ the international Catholic aid network.

The move comes as Palestinian President Abbas continues to press the Hamas PA leadership over their rejectionist stance towards Israel. Although acknowledging their democratic mandate in the elections which saw Fatah punished for corruption and incompetence, Abbas says that opinion surveys clearly indicate that people favour a two-state solution ñ and he has been pushing for a referendum.

Since the Palestinian Authority is operating at only a quarter of its 2005 budget, access to food, jobs and basic services are seriously under threat, says the United Nations. The worsening crisis has prompted humanitarian agencies to upwardly revise their 2006 emergency appeal by 80 per cent.

It has now gone up from 215million US dollars to 385 million US dollars. The greatest proportion of the new money will go towards boosting emergency employment programmes, expanding food aid and increasing the amount disbursed on essential medical supplies to cover shortages.

“We have been compelled to revise our original appeal in the face of the desperate need. It is particularly aimed at assisting the most vulnerable Palestinians, including children who make up half the population,” explained David Shearer, head of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNRWA).

He continued: “The World Food Programme warns that growing numbers of people are unable to cover their daily food needs and other agencies report basic services such as health care and education are deteriorating and set to worsen much further.”

Meanwhile, UNRWA commissioner-general Karen Koning Abu Zayd declared: “Over 100,000 refugees are waiting in line to get short-term jobs in Gaza, and the same programme in the West Bank has seen an increase of 600 per cent in applications compared to April 2005. In the West Bank, we normally get 1,500 applications for teachers’ jobs every year – this year we are already at 5,000.”

“The humanitarian community is not in a position to provide the full range services offered by the Palestinian Authority ? and has no ambitions to do so. But we are anxious to help support those structures that have delivered services such as health and education so effectively over many years and to which donors have contributed more than 7 billion US dollars,” declared David Shearer.

The mutual recognition of Israel and Palestine and the need to step back from violence are two key issues in being able to move beyond the current political impasse. But churches and aid agencies condemn the sanctions against the Palestinian Authority ñ pointing out that Israel is not punished for its constant defiance of UN resolutions.

The World Council of Churches has called for common standards of justice and behaviour from Israel and the Palestinians, while noting that the main power in the situation remains heavily titled towards the Israelis in economic and military terms.

[Also on Ekklesia: Common standards needed for Israel-Palestine peace, says WCC 23/05/06; Palestinian priest to receive Episcopal Peace Fellowship prize; Churches strongly condemn anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial; Iranian president asks Bush, what would Jesus do; Interim aid agreed for Palestinians as churches call for siege to end; US churches in joint call for Middle East peace; UK Christian groups to rally for peace and justice in the Holy Land; Churches seek safety for peace workers in Israel-Palestine; Jewish, Christian and secular activists call for an end to Hebron violence; Bishop questions attack by Chief Rabbi over disinvestment decision; Tensions set to continue around UK Holocaust Memorial Day; Chief Rabbi attacks C of E over disinvestment decision]


United Nations and aid agencies make fresh appeal for Palestine

-09/06/06

The United Nations and a number of NGOs (including churches) operating in occupied Palestinian territory have launched an emergency appeal for additional funding in the face of a deepening humanitarian crisis, reports Caritas ñ the international Catholic aid network.

The move comes as Palestinian President Abbas continues to press the Hamas PA leadership over their rejectionist stance towards Israel. Although acknowledging their democratic mandate in the elections which saw Fatah punished for corruption and incompetence, Abbas says that opinion surveys clearly indicate that people favour a two-state solution ñ and he has been pushing for a referendum.

Since the Palestinian Authority is operating at only a quarter of its 2005 budget, access to food, jobs and basic services are seriously under threat, says the United Nations. The worsening crisis has prompted humanitarian agencies to upwardly revise their 2006 emergency appeal by 80 per cent.

It has now gone up from 215million US dollars to 385 million US dollars. The greatest proportion of the new money will go towards boosting emergency employment programmes, expanding food aid and increasing the amount disbursed on essential medical supplies to cover shortages.

“We have been compelled to revise our original appeal in the face of the desperate need. It is particularly aimed at assisting the most vulnerable Palestinians, including children who make up half the population,” explained David Shearer, head of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNRWA).

He continued: “The World Food Programme warns that growing numbers of people are unable to cover their daily food needs and other agencies report basic services such as health care and education are deteriorating and set to worsen much further.”

Meanwhile, UNRWA commissioner-general Karen Koning Abu Zayd declared: “Over 100,000 refugees are waiting in line to get short-term jobs in Gaza, and the same programme in the West Bank has seen an increase of 600 per cent in applications compared to April 2005. In the West Bank, we normally get 1,500 applications for teachers’ jobs every year – this year we are already at 5,000.”

“The humanitarian community is not in a position to provide the full range services offered by the Palestinian Authority ? and has no ambitions to do so. But we are anxious to help support those structures that have delivered services such as health and education so effectively over many years and to which donors have contributed more than 7 billion US dollars,” declared David Shearer.

The mutual recognition of Israel and Palestine and the need to step back from violence are two key issues in being able to move beyond the current political impasse. But churches and aid agencies condemn the sanctions against the Palestinian Authority ñ pointing out that Israel is not punished for its constant defiance of UN resolutions.

The World Council of Churches has called for common standards of justice and behaviour from Israel and the Palestinians, while noting that the main power in the situation remains heavily titled towards the Israelis in economic and military terms.

[Also on Ekklesia: Common standards needed for Israel-Palestine peace, says WCC 23/05/06; Palestinian priest to receive Episcopal Peace Fellowship prize; Churches strongly condemn anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial; Iranian president asks Bush, what would Jesus do; Interim aid agreed for Palestinians as churches call for siege to end; US churches in joint call for Middle East peace; UK Christian groups to rally for peace and justice in the Holy Land; Churches seek safety for peace workers in Israel-Palestine; Jewish, Christian and secular activists call for an end to Hebron violence; Bishop questions attack by Chief Rabbi over disinvestment decision; Tensions set to continue around UK Holocaust Memorial Day; Chief Rabbi attacks C of E over disinvestment decision]