Emergency Assistance to Civilians

Balance Requested from ACT Alliance: US$ 1,503,730

The protracted emergency crisis in the Palestinian territories has severely weakened coping mechanisms of Palestinian families. The virtual lock-up of the Gaza Strip and the construction of the Separation Wall in the West Bank have severely limited employment and social possibilities for thousands of families, particularly those in villages and communities surrounded by the wall. Recent surveys have confirmed that over 50% of the local population are dependent on humanitarian assistance.

The long-standing presence of the ACT members in the Occupied Palestinian Territories has enabled them to make a difference in the lives of thousands of Palestinian families through high-impact emergency relief projects. In 2005, the focus will remain on outreach programs for the most vulnerable categories of the local population living in impoverished communities affected by the closures. The programs aim at tackling the chronic issues of the society such as food insecurity, unemployment, lack of adequate health services and the rapidly increasing rates of undernourished children.

ACT members in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Middle East Council of Churches/Department of Service to the Palestinian Refugees (MECC/DSPR), Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) jointly appeal for financial support for their emergency relief programs for 2005. We thank you for your attention and continued support to this deserving cause.

Project Completion Date:

DSPR - 30 June 2005

LWF/DWS - 31 December 2005

IOCC - 31 December 2005

Jenny Borden
Interim Director, ACT Co-ordinating Office