European Commission interrupts support for the delivery of fuel to Gaza Power Plant – European Commission press release/Non-UN document

Following security concerns, European Commission interrupts support for the delivery of fuel to Gaza Power Plant

Following security concerns in North Gaza last week, the European Commission decided to interrupt the support for the delivery of fuel to the Gaza Power Plant between Thursday and Sunday.

In the meantime, the European Commission received information indicating that steps were being taken by Hamas to divert part of the revenues deriving from the production of electricity in Gaza. We are extremely concerned about this and are carefully verifying the situation.

We are ready to resume our support to the Gaza Power Plant within hours once we receive the appropriate assurances that all the funds will be exclusively used for the benefit of the Gaza population.

EU external aid, in Palestine as well as all over the world, is directed at relieving suffering of populations in need. In Gaza, part of our current support focuses on allowing the population to benefit from essential public services, including electricity. 

The EU financial support to the Gaza Power Plant continued without interruption under the most adverse circumstances, such as the recent violent events in Gaza. Even when the power plant was not operational, following its bombing in June 2006, the European Commission implemented an emergency distribution programme to ensure provision of electricity to key essential facilities in the Strip.

We will continue to do our utmost to ensure the provision of emergency assistance to the population of Gaza, whom we will not abandon. But the Commission needs to be reassured that this will reach the real target: the Palestinians in need.

So far in 2007, the European Commission has provided over 400 million euros in support to the Palestinians (almost 2.5 billion NIS).

For further information, please contact: 

Alix de Mauny
Press and Information Manager
European Commission Technical Assistance Office for the West Bank and Gaza Strip
PO Box 22207 Mount of Olives
Jerusalem 
Tel: +97225415888 ext 859
Fax:+97225415848