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Posted on 07/02/2002 6:52:59 PM PDT by kattracks
UNITED NATIONS, Jul 02, 2002 (AP WorldStream via COMTEX) -- The U.N. agency that helps Palestinian refugees has appealed for dlrs 55 million to rebuild and repair shelters for more than 1,700 Palestinian families affected by recent Israeli military incursions into refugee camps, a senior U.N. official said. The money is in addition to the dlrs 50 million that the U.N. Relief Works Agency has received so far this year, Peter Hansen, the agency's commissioner general told reporters Tuesday.
He said the deteriorating conditions of Palestinian camps in the West Bank meant far more money was needed now than previously estimated.
The 21-month conflict, which has crippled the Palestinian economy, has left half the population in the West Bank and Gaza living below the poverty level, he said.
"We have seen a continued deterioration in economic conditions and massive unemployment without transport and freedom of movement," Hansen said.
"We have closures and curfews in West Bank towns, and of course internal closures in Gaza, which means that hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are living under curfew - and that is a very difficult way to conduct your life," he said.
Hansen said funds are urgently needed for food, water and medicines.
At least half of the dlrs 55 million was needed for humanitarian relief and reconstruction in the Jenin camp, the site of some of the worst fighting in recent months, he said.
In an unprecedented gesture, the United Arab Emirates has pledged at least dlrs 30 million to rebuild the Jenin camp, Hansen said.
UNRWA has started clearing unexploded ordnance, munitions and rubble from the camp, but reconstruction is not expected to be completed before winter.
"I think it's very good news," he said. "Many donors have complained in the past about the Arab countries not carrying the full share of the burden."
Hansen expressed hope that the dlrs 25 million still needed would be pledged soon since other programs such as emergency employment and education efforts were also at risk of being disrupted due to the shortage of money.
UNRWA raised about dlrs 140 million in 2001, but an appeal for dlrs 117 million for the current year succeeded in bringing in only about dlrs 50 million, Hansen said.
He said that some donors were frustrated to see their previous investments destroyed.
UNRWA provides helps 3.7 million refugees and their families displaced by the 1948 and 1967 Arab-Israeli wars.
Hansen, responding to recent criticism by Jewish organizations, said UNRWA did not control security in the camps and therefore was not responsible for any weapons found or hidden in the camps.
By DILSHIKA JAYAMAHA Associated Press Writer
Copyright 2002 Associated Press, All rights reserved
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A very worthy project. Rebuild them in Jordan.
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