UN seeks 80 percent increase in aid to Palestinians

The United Nations and aid groups said in a statement they had revised an emergency aid appeal for 2006 to $385 million from an original estimate of $215 million. The money would help pay for employment programs, food aid and health care.

Western countries cut off direct aid to the Palestinian Authority after the militant Islamist group Hamas, which is sworn to destroy Israel but has largely abided by a truce for over a year, took over the government following elections in January.

The aid freeze has left the Palestinian Authority unable to pay salaries of 165,000 government workers, and has resulted in shortages of basic necessities including medical supplies.

"We have been compelled to revise our original appeal in the face of desperate need. It is particularly aimed at assisting the most vulnerable Palestinians, including children who make up half the population," said David Shearer, head of the UN office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

The U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, cited a 600 percent increase in applications for short-term, U.N.-sponsored jobs in the West Bank. The program's Gaza waiting-list now tops 100,000 people.

Shearer said the World Food Program had also warned the international community that more Palestinians were unable to meet their daily food needs.

Western powers have called on Hamas to recognize Israel, renounce violence and abide by existing peace agreements if it wants contacts or aid to resume. Hamas has so far refused.

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