Japan provides $6m in emergency assistance to Palestinians
The Jerusalem Times (independent Palestinian weekly) 29 January 2004
www.jerusalem-times.net/article/news/details/detail.asp?id=4702

As part of its continuing effort to ease the acute humanitarian crisis in
the occupied Palestinian territories, the Government of Japan announced
January 22 its intention to extend an emergency grant aid of approximately
US $6 million to UNDP's Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People
(PAPP).

"In both times of peace and volatility, the Government and people of Japan
have shown extraordinary leadership in heeding calls to support the
development of the Palestinian people. As such they are a true partner for
the future," said Timothy Rothermel, Special Representative of UNDP in
Jerusalem.

A statement released by the Japanese Foreign Ministry stated that "Japan is
committed to continue to actively extend assistance to the Palestinian
people in the recognition that the resolution of the Palestinian issue is
the key for bringing about peace to the Middle East."

Noting the long-standing relationship between PAPP and the Japanese
Government, the Head of Palestinian Affairs at the Japanese Embassy in Tel
Aviv, Izuru Shimmura stated: "We hope that this emergency assistance will
help alleviate the severe humanitarian crisis for the Palestinians,
emphasize to them our deep commitment to help, and to let them know that
they are not alone."

On 18 November 2003, UN agencies issued a consolidated appeal to the
international community for approximately $300 million to meet urgent
humanitarian needs of the Palestinians. As part of its comprehensive
emergency response program, UNDP's component of this appeal was $46 million.

The new $6 million contribution from Japan to UNDP's Palestinian program
will cover three important areas of work contained in the consolidated
appeal: (1) emergency employment generation through upgrading of educational
and vocational training facilities in the West Bank; (2) construction of
municipal facilities and community centers in rural areas of the West Bank;
and (3) humanitarian relief through shelter construction for poor families
in the Gaza Strip.

The economic, social and humanitarian conditions of the Palestinians have
witnessed serious deterioration since the beginning of the uprising
(Intifada) in September 2000. Particularly alarming are the levels of
unemployment and poverty, as well as the deterioration in basic social
services such as: education, medical care and infrastructure. The ratio of
populations per employed person has climbed by more than 50 percent since
the start of the Intifada. Whereas in the third quarter of 2000, one worker
supported 4.3 persons in the West Bank and 5.9 in the Gaza Strip, the ratios
are now 6.9 and 9.4 respectively. The statistics are grim: 66.5 percent of
Palestinian households are living below the poverty line-57.8 percent in the
West Bank and 84.6 in Gaza. And 56.5 percent of the Palestinian households
overall-58 percent in the West Bank and 53.6 percent in Gaza-have lost over
half of their usual income during the current crisis.

One-fifth of Palestinian children can now be classified as moderately to
severely anemic, a condition brought about by malnutrition. In Gaza, the
rate reached 13.2 percent, a comparable rate to that in Zimbabwe (13
percent) and the Congo (13.9 percent).