International aid arrangement targets vulnerable Palestinians
A UN-backed humanitarian aid plan seeks to support 1.8 million Palestinians as a worsening coronavirus pandemic and settlement threat looms.
A new international aid plan targets millions of vulnerable Palestinians, including many facing increased pressure from Israeli settlement expansion and medical shortages in addressing the coronavirus pandemic, according to Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh.
“The most vulnerable Palestinians must be supported, whether they are in Gaza, Jerusalem, Area C or elsewhere,” said Shtayyeh in a statement. “This plan will allow us to link immediate humanitarian aid with sustainable development endeavors and efforts to overcome impediments over the long-term.”
The Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) was announced virtually on Tuesday by Shtayyeh alongside representatives from the UN Office of the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). The arrangement includes support from 213 organizations and 186 humanitarian projects.
Nearly 2.5 million Palestinians, about 47% of the population, require some kind of aid, according to the OCHA. The HRP targets 1.8 million of those who they say are most in need.
