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A young boy staying at the Beach Refugee Camp. Photo: Paul Jeffrey
The Gaza Strip has undergone dramatic developments over the last month as intensive factional fighting between Hamas and Fatah reached an explosive peak the week of June 12. More than 116 people have been killed and more than 500 people have been injured
On June 20, Action by Churches Together (ACT) provided $50,000 to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance’s long-time partner and fellow ACT member the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) to help with an initial, quick response to the emergency while preparing an appeal for broader assistance.
The Department for Service to Palestinian Refugees (DSPR) of the Middle East Council of Churches has long been active in providing humanitarian assistance and social services to vulnerable families in the region since 1974.
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) is providing $50,000 from One Great Hour of Sharing and designated funds towards the ACT appeal issued July 9, 2007. Funds for this six-month appeal will provide emergency assistance that will enable families to withstand the negative effects of the increased emergency situation through provision of essential services such as food, health, education and special needs in the West Bank and Gaza.
Specifically, funds will be used for:
- Relief food support and cash to be offered to 9,500 families (6,000 in Gaza Strip and 3,500 in the West Bank — each family has an average of six persons).
- Short-term contracts with five new medical personnel in health care centers in the Gaza Strip to serve an increased number of patients. This will address the monthly average of patients consisting of: 2,700 children, 1,000 pregnant women, 500 adults, 600 dental services and 250 home visits.
- Partial coverage of fees and medicines to benefit approximately 2,300 patients per month (about 1,200 children and 1,100 women and men).
- Providing 500 chronically ill persons with medical needs access to medical facilities and/or medicaments; distribution of medicines for people suffering from chronic illnesses that are not available at the UNRWA, the UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees, and Ministry's health clinics.
The root cause of the crisis is political. Since the formation in March 2006 of the Palestinian Hamas-led government, an economic blockade manifested in the withdrawal of budgetary assistance by major donors, and the Government of Israel withholding taxes was imposed, which has led to increased poverty and hardship.
ACT recognizes that the socio-economic crisis situation in the Palestinian Territories cannot be sustained with international assistance or with emergency appeals. An exit strategy, in the middle of political turmoil and instability, needs to be the focus of ongoing discussion among NGOs, public institutions and international agencies and partners. With the active involvement of NGOs and others, including DSPR/MECC, ACT can proceed with exploring ways to help communities with capacities that would lessen dependence on aid in general and particularly on emergency appeals. |
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