Finland sends additional EUR 1.6 million of emergency relief to Palestinians

Press release 239/2006
14 July, 2006

The Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs has granted another EUR 1.6 million of emergency relief to aid the difficult humanitarian situation among the Palestinians.

Thus Finland responds to the appeal of UNRWA, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, according to whom aid will reach 4.3 million Palestinian refugees, registered at the organisation, in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank and Gaza. Approximately one third of these people lives at refugee camps maintained by UNRWA.

As a consequence of the unsettling developments during the past few weeks, the humanitarian situation in the Palestinian regions and Gaza in particular has deteriorated considerably. The difficult financial situation of relief organisations impedes UN's possibilities to offer emergency relief. The coverage of of UN’s emergency relief appeal for this year concerning the Palestinian regions, amounting to USD 380 million, of which UNRWA’s share is one half, is only covered for 30 per cent.

With the relief funds, UNRWA aims to secure vital services to the ever-growing, particularly vulnerable mass of refugees from the Palestinian regions. The primary focus is on securing food distribution, handing out cash assistance in cases of emergency, distribution of water and medical supplies, enhancing the operations of movable clinics, and ensuring the functioning of sewage.

During the past few years, Finland has annually granted an EUR 3.6 million annual relief to UNRWA under the Ministry for Foreign Affairs’ budget for humanitarian aid, included in the development co-operation funds. In 2006, Finland has already supported the organisation with EUR 2.5 million.

For additional information, please contact Timo Karmakallio, Counsellor, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel. 09 1605 6342, and Irma Kaunisto, Research Secretary, tel. 09 1605 6340,  Humanitarian Aid Unit