Aid agencies request $705 million to address humanitarian needs in Palestine during 2015 [EN/AR]

Ramallah, 12 February 2015

Today, the Deputy Prime Minister of the State of Palestine, H.E. Dr. Mohammad Mustafa, and the Humanitarian Coordinator, Mr. James W. Rawley, released the Strategic Response Plan for 2015, which aims to address the humanitarian needs of 1.6 million Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.

“The past months have been some of the grimmest in our history,” said Dr. Mustafa, “especially in Gaza, where our people continue to need urgent humanitarian support in the aftermath of the 51-day war. The situation in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, is also deteriorating against the backdrop of political impasse and an increasingly challenging economic and fiscal situation,” Dr. Mustafa stated. “We welcome the Strategic Response Plan as an essential component of our response to this difficult situation. By focusing on the most urgent humanitarian needs, the Plan complements the Palestinian government’s recovery and reconstruction efforts in Gaza and contributes to stabilizing the situation in the West Bank,” he added.

“2014 was a tragic year for Palestine, with a sharp increase in humanitarian needs,” said Mr. Rawley. “Approximately 100,000 people are still unable to return to their homes in Gaza, and in the West Bank, thousands more live in chronic insecurity, at risk of losing their homes and livelihoods as a result of demolitions,” he added. “If we lack full donor support for this plan, over 22,000 families could remain displaced. Moreover, up to 1.6 million people in the occupied Palestinian territory would be deprived of adequate water and sanitation services, and food assistance, while access to basic healthcare and education would be compromised.”

The 2015 Strategic Response Plan requests $705 million to carry out 207 projects presented by 77 organizations, including 64 national and international NGOs and 13 UN agencies. Almost 80 per cent of the funding sought is to provide shelter and non-food items and to enhance food security among vulnerable Palestinians. Over 75 per cent of the requested funds target needs in Gaza.

“Alongside the humanitarian response, we need fundamental changes, particularly in Gaza which is teetering on the brink of another major crisis,” Mr. Rawley stated. “Above all, the fragile ceasefire needs to be solidified, the blockade lifted, human rights respected, and a political solution reached for the entire Palestinian territory.”

ENDS

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