UN seeks $454 mn emergency funds for Palestinians

Jerusalem, Dec 8: UN agencies appealed for donors to provide453.6 million dollars in emergency humanitarian funds for thePalestinian territories next year as poverty deepens amid a financialcrisis.

The appeal made yesterday is the largest launched for palestiniansin the Gaza Strip and the West Bank and comes on top of 384 milliondollars sought for this year, the United Nations said.

''Two-thirds of Palestinians in the West Bank and the Gaza Stripare now living in poverty,'' Kevin Kennedy, the UN's humanitariancoordinator, said in a statement. ''Growing numbers of people areunable to cover their daily food needs.'' The United Nations said thedeterioration was linked to the financial woes faced by the PalestinianAuthority, which is led by the militant Islamic group Hamas.

The United States and Europe imposed crippling sanctions on theadministration when Hamas took power in March because of the group'srefusal to recognise Israel and renounce violence.

Israel has also withheld tax and customs receipts.

''It is increasingly difficult for people to cope in such avolatile and unpredictable environment,'' said Karen Koning AbuZayd,commissioner General of the UN Relief and Works Agency for PalestineRefugees (UNRWA).

About 1.4 million Palestinians live in coastal Gaza and 2.4 million in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

On top of the Western sanctions, Palestinians say Israelisettlements, military checkpoints and a barrier cutting into the WestBank have also hit their economy because they seal off towns fromworkplaces, schools and agricultural fields.

Israel says the barrier and checkpoints are needed to prevent militant attacks.

In Gaza, residents say Israel's frequent closures of the strip'sborder crossings have paralysed life. Israel says it imposes themeasures for security reasons.

''Humanitarian assistance can cushion a deteriorating situation,but it ultimately cannot stop the decline,'' said David Shearer, headof the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in thePalestinian territories.

''Ultimately, only a political settlement can generate significantimprovement.'' Israel and Palestinian militant groups declared a trucein Gaza on November 26 in the wake of a crushing, five-month-oldIsraeli army offensive.

The international community hopes the shaky ceasefire can revivepeace negotiations that foundered in 2000, just before the start of aPalestinian uprising.

Reuters