Emergency Assistance to the Palestinian population

Balance Requested from ACT Alliance: US$ 858,338

The outcome of January 25^th 2006 parliamentary elections in Palestine has deteriorated the ongoing political and economic impasse faced by the Palestinian population. The blockage of funds by international donors and the withholding of money from taxes and custom duties collected for the Palestinian National Authority by the Israeli government have increased the plight of the Palestinian population, whose access to food and basic services - such as health and education - was already very precarious. In June, the situation worsened after Hamas militants kidnapped an Israeli soldier. Israeli responded with daily bombardments by military planes and targeted killings that destroyed homes, businesses, properties and agricultural land in the Gaza Strip. Furthermore, the Rafah crossing to Egypt was closed, denying thousands of travellers the freedom of movement for medical, educational, family or business reasons. The security situation rendered free movement difficult not only in Gaza Strip but also in the West Bank.

On March 17, 2006 an ACT appeal was issued to respond to this situation including a proposal from the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) to support the continuity of critical health services in the Augusta Victoria Hospital (AVH). The appeal was revised on May 12, 2006 to include a proposal from Middle East Council of Churches/Department of Service to Palestine Refugees (MECC/DSPR) to provide food, health and education support to the affected populations in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

The current revision includes a revision of the MECC/DSPR proposal to increase the number of beneficiaries following the bombardments which started in June. It also includes a proposal from the International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) to support rehabilitation of agricultural land and feeding of children in schools. The proposal is extended until March 2007 as there are no clear prospects of a solution for this political stalemate in the immediate future.

Please note that this revision replaces the original appeal submitted on May 12, 2006.

Project Completion Date:

LWF-AVH: 1 April 2006 – 30 September 2006
MECC-DSPR: 1 May 2006 – 31 March 2007
IOCC:1 Sept 2006 – 31 May 2007

Reporting Schedule

Summary of Appeal Targets, Pledges/Contributions Received and Balance Requested

Signed by:

John Nduna
Director, ACT Co-ordinating Office