EU Provides an Additional Euro 34 Million Humanitarian Aid Package for the Palestinian Territories

Commissioner Michel said: "I am deeply worried about the deterioration of the humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian territories. Our humanitarian partners face increasing needs and this decision intends to reinforce our support. But they should not be considered in any case as a substitute to the Palestinian Authority. To reach the people in need, they need a minimum of access and security. Therefore I appeal to all parties to facilitate the humanitarian tasks."

The funds provided under this decision will be used to cover the most urgent needs of the Palestinian population for food aid, health services, water and sanitation, temporary jobs and protection. UNRWA, WFP, UNICEF and other UN agencies, the International Committee of the Red Cross and Non Governmental Organizations already working on the ground will implement the operations funded by the European Commission.

The Palestinian territories have now been experiencing an unprecedented socio-economic and humanitarian crisis for five years. According to the World Bank, nearly 70% of the inhabitants of the Gaza Strip live below the poverty line. Almost 40% of people in the West Bank lack regular access to water. And the future of the 2.5 million Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, Jordan and Syria remains uncertain.

In response to these needs, the EU has become the world's leading donor to this region. The EU's solidarity with the victims of this protracted crisis is shown by the scale of its aid. Since 2003 the EU has granted almost euro 500 million a year to help people in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Since the second Intifada in September 2000 the European Commission has granted euro 191 million in humanitarian aid for the Palestinians. This aid has financed more than 400 humanitarian projects by the Commission's operational partners: NGOs, UN agencies and the International Committee of the Red Cross/Red Crescent. In 2005 alone the Commission made two emergency grants for a total of euro 36.6 million.

The decision will be finally adopted by the Commission only after approval by the European Parliament in mid-June.

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Source: Delegation of the European Commission to the U.S.

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