Posted on 01/31/2009 12:44:02 PM PST by shielagolden
Obama Provides Emergency Funds for Gaza Relief Funds go to U.N. relief agencies and Red Cross
Washington — President Obama authorized the use of $20.3 million in emergency funding for immediate humanitarian assistance to Palestinian refugees and conflict victims in the Gaza Strip, the U.S. State Department said.
The announcement follows remarks by U.S. Middle East special envoy George Mitchell, who said, “President Obama has expressed the deep concern of the United States about the loss of Palestinian life and the humanitarian needs in Gaza” at a briefing in Ramallah in the West Bank on January 29.
Mitchell is on a mission to the region to show American support for the Arab-Israeli peace process, and to consolidate a sustainable and durable cease-fire in Gaza. He met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and other senior Palestinian officials in Ramallah and Jerusalem January 29.
Mitchell met with U.N. relief director John Ging at a U.N. warehouse in Jerusalem January 30.
“U.S. government support for humanitarian assistance to Palestinian refugees and conflict victims now totals nearly $120 million in [fiscal year] 2009, including nearly $60 million in Gaza,” the State Department announcement said.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon made an urgent appeal for $613 million January 29 to cover the immediate recovery needs of the people in Gaza for the next six to nine months. He said a formal appeal will be announced February 2 in Geneva at the U.N. Mission.
Ban said, “Help is urgently needed, including food, clean water, shelter, medicine and the restoration of basic services.
“When I saw the people in Gaza, the destruction and severity of the challenges were beyond description.”
U.S. ASSISTANCE TO THREE AGENCIES
Of the $20.3 million in new emergency funds, $13.5 million will go to the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), $6 million to the International Committee of the Red Cross and $800,000 to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. These agencies will distribute emergency food assistance, provide medical assistance and temporary shelter, create temporary employment, and restore access to electricity and drinkable water for people living in the Gaza Strip, the department said. About 1.4 million Palestinians live in Gaza.
“Today's contribution to UNRWA augments the $85 million the United States contributed in December 2008 toward UNRWA's 2009 appeals,” the department said.
UNRWA is the largest provider of humanitarian aid in Gaza, providing 70 percent of the population with emergency food assistance, essential health care and primary education. “We are working to develop a longer-term reconstruction [and] development effort with international partners,” the State Department said.
The relief efforts have begun in earnest following a 22-day conflict between Israeli and Hamas forces. Hamas, a terrorist organization, seized control of the Gaza Strip from the Palestinian Authority in June 2007. The conflict began when Hamas launched dozens of rockets and mortars into southern Israel. Israel responded with an air and ground offensive to halt the attacks.
In addition to the aid announced January 30 by the State Department, the U.S. Agency for International Development has provided more than $3.7 million for emergency assistance to Gaza. “Food, milk powder, blankets, plastic sheeting and other nonfood items have been distributed to beneficiaries, and the distributions are continuing,” the department said.
Yo Obama! Replace that 35,000 chickens that the Israelis killed during their raids and everything will be back to normal.
I be broke he sends 20 mil to muzzie terrorists. Nahhh. My withholding goes to 15 on Monday. Homey ain’t gonna play this game.
Too angry to reply!
This government is just plain evil.
They take 40-50% of people’s income and their families have to do without.
Give you an example, when you buy a loaf of bread at the store, it’s been
taxed over 30%,cars,30%,phone bill 30%,
cable bill tax 30%,gas and electric. I
could go on and on and on put all of these charges are hidden from the public
Now they want to take some of social security away from people. The
government already took the cost of food and energy out of the CPI basket so they
don’t have to give the high cost of living to people to keep up with the cost of
inflation. Before they make any changes to social security, they should make
changes to the money we give out to the United Nations and all other foreign
aide.
Then the social security comes out of my check which is 8%. My company pays
the other 8%.
If the government would have let me kept my money, I could have invested it
at 4-5% a year, I would have over a million dollars.
What does the government do with all that money that people don’t collect?
Like my sister, that worked all of her life and never collected one social
security check.
She died at 55 with no children
Just change your w-4 to 15...The new protest. Come and get us you dirty rats!!
I like to see everyone stop work for one day
America Newspapers and Media are all part of the propaganda machine. If you watch the tv media closely, all they do is read from the teleprotor machine. It’s all controlled; even the voting machines. Hitler couldn’t do a better job with the technology they have today.
http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=why+we+fight&hl=en&emb=0&aq=f#
Swiss bankers rejoice.
“I like to see everyone stop work for one day”
That is a Dam good Idea.
The Money Masters - How International Bankers Gained Control of America
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-515319560256183936&hl=en
That would tell the GOVERNMENT go F—— y-—
you got to work to 5/30 of very year to pay your tax to the GOVERNMENT, geting to the point not to work
‘you got to work to 5/30 of very year to pay your tax to the GOVERNMENT, geting to the point not to work”
Getting to that point; Sooner that I ever thought In One week!!
Hamas must be running low on missles?
Pray for America, Our Troops and Israel
You don't pay your taxes. What's the worst they could do to you?
Appoint you Sec. of Treasury? Or Sec. of Health & Human Services?
They could take my tv. Or my furniture I got at goodwill. I just hope they let me keep my old clothes.
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