|
News Releases
No. 58/06
July 14, 2006
EU PROVIDES €50 MILLION EMERGENCY HUMANITARIAN AID FOR PALESTINIANS
In response to the worsening situation in the
Palestinian Territories, the European Commission has
announced plans to provide a further €50 million in
humanitarian aid to allow for a more forceful and
comprehensive response to the growing needs of the
Palestinians. Areas to be covered include food delivery,
healthcare, water/sanitation and Red Cross protection
activities. The new funds are being channelled through
the Commission's
Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO),
under the responsibility of
Louis Michel (shown at left above in
Palestine, November 2005), Commissioner
for Development and Humanitarian Aid.
Louis Michel said: "I strongly condemn the escalating
violence in the region and deplore the ever-worsening
humanitarian situation of people living in Gaza and the
West Bank. Once again, civilians are paying the price of
conflict. They are the main casualties of the Israeli
blockades and incursions in Gaza, and now in Lebanon.
Movement restrictions are also making it very difficult
for humanitarian operators to help the people that most
need it. I strongly urge both Israeli and Palestinian
authorities to facilitate the work of the humanitarian
agencies and ensure the protection of civilians."
The latest funding package will help to meet the vital
needs of around 1.5 million people living in the Gaza
Strip and the West Bank. Activities to be undertaken by
the Commission's humanitarian partners include:
- Food distribution: Food will be distributed to an
estimated 500,000 people until the end of this year by
Commission humanitarian partners such as the United
Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNWRA), the UN World
Food Programme (WFP) and CARE.
- Health: The UN's World Health Organisation (WHO),
CARE, MERLIN are potential partners for the provision of
basic health services.
- Water and sanitation: NGOs such as CARE and OXFAM will
ensure water supplies for the most vulnerable
communities as soon as possible.
- Protection: As the population is increasingly exposed
to violations of international humanitarian and human
rights law, the Commission will fund protection
activities implemented by the International Committee of
the Red Cross (ICRC).
These funds are in addition to the €34 million announced
last week from the Commission's regular humanitarian
budget and the €105 million channelled through the
Temporary International Mechanism for the direct
delivery of basic needs assistance to the Palestinian
people and a €120 million package of aid announced in
February.
Further Contact Information
Press and Public Diplomacy
Delegation of the European Commission
2300 M Street, NW
Washington, DC 20037
http://www.eurunion.org/PressRoom
Tel: 202-862-9552
Fax: 202-429-1766
|
