OPEC fund extends humanitarian aid to Palestine – Press release/Non-UN document

OPEC FUND EXTENDS US$200,000 IN HUMANITARIAN AID TO PALESTINE

01/01

Vienna, Austria, January 3, 2001

The OPEC Fund for International Development has approved an emergency assistance grant of US$200,000 to help provide special medical treatment in Austrian hospitals to severely injured Palestinians, especially women and children, who have become victims of the renewed fighting in their homeland.

Serious clashes between Israeli forces and the Palestinian people in the West Bank and Gaza Strip have resulted in many deaths and injuries among Palestinian civilians. Although these areas are under the Palestine Authority, they are subject to tight controls by the Israelis. These restrictions are causing great hardship by preventing workers from going to their jobs, doctors and patients from reaching medical centers and students and teachers from schools.

Efforts are now underway to bring relief to the citizens of Palestine in the form of a fund-raising campaign organized by the Austrian Committee for the Holy Land in Austria. The committee members have approached the Governments of the Austrian federal provinces and national institutions, as well as international and national funding agencies to help finance the provision of medical treatment for 50 injured Palestinians in Austrian hospitals. This number could be increased to 100 injured people depending on the outcome of the fund-raising.

The selection of the most critically injured cases will be done by the Palestine Ministry of Health in coordination with the hospitals of the West Bank and Gaza, while the necessary arrangements for bringing selected patients to Austria will be undertaken by the Embassy of Palestine in Austria and the Committee.

The OPEC Fund grant will be used to help cover the transportation costs of patients and one family member, hospitalization, accommodation and living allowance per person for two months, as well as post-hospital treatment.