Media Releases > Oxfam Ireland Press Release Media Releases > Oxfam Ireland Press ReleasePalestine: EU Foreign Ministers must act to avert a looming humanitarian crisis
14 September 2006
Palestine funding: 90,000 government workers excluded from the scheme - affecting some 500,000 people, Oxfam says.
International agency Oxfam today called upon European Union foreign ministers meeting in Brussels tomorrow to immediately resume normal international aid to the Palestinian Authority in order to avert a looming humanitarian crisis.
The Temporary International Mechanism developed by the European Union to provide direct assistance to the Palestinian people, following the suspension of aid to the Palestinian Authority, has failed to meet many basic needs, Oxfam says.
Over 90,000 government workers are excluded from the scheme. Oxfam estimates these workers support over half a million Palestinians. Ministries and local authorities are exhausted of funds, leaving over 1500 schools without budgets, rubbish overflowing in the streets, and hospitals are struggling to cope.
To provide assistance through the mechanism, the European Commission has spent 12 million euros developing a parallel funding structure through the Office of the President when Palestinian Authority ministries already exist to deliver assistance.
Adam Leach, Oxfam International spokesperson said:
"Palestinians institutions must be able to carry out their vital work."
"Oxfam estimates that half a million Palestinians remain without any income, dependent on the salaries of tens of thousands of dedicated civil servants and local officials who have not been paid for over six months. Limited direct payments from the European Commission have failed to address this growing crisis. Many households in Gaza can no longer afford to empty cesspits, which are now overflowing with waste."
"A new Palestinian government provides an opportunity to move the peace process forward but it will not be effective without international aid. To continue withholding support will only exacerbate the suffering and create tensions which will weaken EU attempts to support a just and lasting peace."
On 2 September, health workers joined teachers in a national strike in protest at the shortages they face. Oxfam Solidarité and Oxfam Novib partner organisations, health charities, Palestinian Medical Relief Society and the Union of Hospital Workers Committees have struggled to cope with an influx of new patients.
Notes to Editors
The Temporary International Mechanism is also being reviewed by the EU on Monday.
On 12 September, the UN reported that three out of four Palestinians are now living in poverty. The figure has risen rapidly since the suspension of international aid and Israel 's withholding of Palestinian tax money last spring.
The European Commission and Member States were the largest donors to the Occupied Palestinian Territories totaling around 500 million euros. In 2005, 48 per cent of the Commission's 260 million euros aid was directly transferred through the Palestinian Authority, supporting the running of schools, hospitals, water provision, including some funds towards the payment of salaries.
The Temporary International Mechanism, established by the European Commission on behalf of donors, is designed to provide direct assistance to the Palestinian Authority. It has made one full round of payments. The 40 million euros provided by the Commission to cover salary costs for 62,000 employees and 48, 000 welfare recipients and pensioners, falls far short of the 228 million euros required just to meet health and education salaries for the year. The Palestinian Authority predicted salary costs of 942 million euros in 2006.
Council Regulation 1257/96: "The sole aim [of humanitarian aid] is to prevent or relieve human suffering, is accorded to victims without discrimination on the grounds of race, ethnic group, religion, sex, age, nationality or political affiliation and must not be guided by, or subject to political considerations."
Contact / Interviews
Louis Belanger, Oxfam media officer in Brussels on +32 473 562 260
Oxfam Ireland's Media Executive Paul Dunphy on 00353 1 6040706
or email paul.dunphy [at] oxfamireland.org.