Posted on 07/08/2003 1:08:13 PM PDT by yonif
BRUSSELS - The European Commission on Tuesday announced a new multi-million euro humanitarian aid package designed to help Palestinians in both the occupied territories and Lebanon.
The Commission, the executive arm of the European Union, said in a statement that the 10 million euro (11 million dollar) package would be used to finance emergency food supplies and to improve access to water and hygiene.
The statement said that 6.5 million euros had been earmarked for the West Bank and Gaza Strip while the rest would go to Lebanon.
The continuing conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians has had a "devastating effect on the Palestinian economy," and has sparked a serious humanitarian crisis, the statement went on.
In the West bank and Gaza Strip more than half the active population was unemployed and nearly two thirds of people scraped a living on less than two dollars per day, it said.
The money destined for Palestinians in Lebanon would be used to bolster hygiene and health projects targetting women and children, while aid would also be used on psychological help for young people.
More than half these refugees "live in overcrowded camps almost totally devoid of hygiene," the Commission said.
Lebanon is home to 380,000 Palestinian refugees and their descendants. More than half of them live in 12 overcrowded, impoverished camps dotted around the country.
Since the start of the second Intifada in September 2000 the European Commission Humanitarian Aid Office has allocated 100 million euros to Palestinians living in the occupied territories.
I bet the other one third either works for Israel or is paid in foreign aide.
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