United Nations (UN) and international agencies have threatened to cancel their assistance programs in the West Bank and Gaza Strip unless the Israeli government lifts its harsh closure policies in the region.
Agency directors sent a letter to the Israeli authorities explaining that the current security situation is not conducive to humanitarian assistance programs. "Several organizations indicated that they are now are seriously considering whether they should continue to work at all under these circumstances," the directors write, according to Haaretz.
In 2002, international donors pledged one billion dollars in humanitarian aid for the Palestinians. Relief agencies used the funds to supply families with basic food aid, to provide shelter for those who had lost their homes due to Israeli demolitions and to administer emergency job-creation programs.
The relief workers reported that despite coordination agreements with the Israeli army, soldiers mistakenly shoot at international staff. The increase in the number of cities placed under closure and the uncertainty of working conditions has also become an obstacle to aid, the agencies said. "Addressing endless operational problems, after the fact, has become the main characteristic of our collaboration with the Israelis.”
The UN is appealing to donors for $305 million in funding to provide humanitarian aid in 2004. A forum of donor countries was established in 1995 by 40 countries that committed themselves to contribute eight billion dollars to Palestinian Authority infrastructure and institutions. — (menareport.com)
© 2003 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
