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Wednesday, December 8, 2004
European Commission provides EUR 7 million in humanitarian aid to the most vulnerable Palestinians

[IMRA: These figures are dwarfed by the huge sums Arafat diverted. In fact,
Suha Arafat's pay-off considerably exceeds the total 2004 EU contribution.]

Reference: IP/04/1448 Date: 07/12/2004
http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/04/1448&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

IP/04/1448
Brussels, 7 December 2004

Commission provides EUR 7 million in humanitarian aid to the most vulnerable
Palestinians

The European Commission has allocated a further EUR 7 million in
humanitarian aid for people made vulnerable by the Middle East crisis. The
aid will provide access to food, clean water and sanitation for the poorest
Palestinians living on the West Bank and in the Gaza Strip. There is also a
major funding component to help rehabilitate the shelters of thousands of
Palestinian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. The aid will be
channelled through ECHO, the Commission's humanitarian aid department. It
brings the Commission's humanitarian assistance to victims of the Middle
East crisis to EUR 37 million for 2004.

Louis Michel, Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, said: "As
the political process in the Middle East may well enter a new phase, it is
important not to forget the humanitarian consequences of the crisis and to
continue assisting and protecting those who grow more vulnerable every day.
Palestinian refugees who have been in neighbouring countries for over 50
years are often forgotten by aid agencies and donors. We must ensure they
live in decent conditions. In the occupied Palestinian territory, living
conditions are deteriorating for an increasing share of the population, as a
direct result of the conflict."

The latest aid package includes food aid for 12,000 Bedouin families in the
Gaza Strip. Wells and irrigation systems will be rehabilitated for the
benefit of 5,000 farmers whose assets were destroyed during military
operations. In areas affected by the West Bank barrier, rehabilitated water
tanks and sewage treatment systems will serve 8,000 people. Actions aimed at
protecting civilians from violence by all parties to the conflict will also
be supported, in conformity with the 4th Geneva Convention. Meanwhile, the
shelters of 4,000 refugees in Jordan, Lebanon and Syria will be
rehabilitated.

These activities will complement those funded through decisions adopted
earlier this year, that have benefited almost a million needy Palestinians.
The Commission's humanitarian assistance to the Palestinians since the start
of the Intifada amounts to EUR 155 million, making it one of the largest aid
donors in the region.

According to the United Nations, 2004 has seen the worst levels of
destruction of the four years of Intifada in the territories. The
humanitarian situation in Gaza has sharply deteriorated. Infrastructure and
home demolitions, intensified movement restrictions and escalating conflict
are the primary causes. In the West Bank increasing numbers of people are
prevented by the "security barrier" from accessing healthcare, education,
water resources and the means to earn their living. About
2.2 million Palestinians survive on less than $2 (EUR1.54) per day.

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