Food aid to OPT – WFP welcomes donation from UAE Red Crescent – WFP press release

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UAE Red Crescent gives WFP US$100,000 to help Palestinians

Abu Dhabi, 13 August 2007 – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) today welcomed a US$100,000 donation from the United Arab Emirates’ Red Crescent Society to help the UN food aid agency assist the growing number of impoverished people in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt).

“It is always encouraging to work together with major organizations such as the UAE Red Crescent, which sets an example that we hope would be followed by others in the region,” said Arnold Vercken, WFP’s Country Director in the oPt.

Escalating

The cash donation will be used to help assist 665,000 of the most vulnerable non-refugee population in the West Bank and Gaza Strip who have been dramatically affected by escalating political violence, stagnating economy and rising unemployment.

The situation is particularly serious in Gaza, where industry remains completely stagnated by the lack of raw materials entering the Strip. Increasing numbers of labourers are being laid off or are working reduced working hours leading to rising poverty amongst this group.

Major donor

The UAE government has been a major donor to WFP since 2004, when it contributed US$50,000. To date, it has donated over US$9 million to WFP operations around the world.

WFP, together with other aid agencies, is working to help alleviate the humanitarian suffering of the Palestinian people in the occupied territories. This humanitarian mission is becoming increasingly challenging amidst the current volatile security environment.

WFP is starting a new two-year operation in the oPt in September at a total cost of US$107 million. Donors, who have provided US$21.5 million so far, include the United States (US$18 million), Japan (US$1.9 million), Norway (US$493,000), Switzerland (US$410,000), Austria (US$267,000), Turkey (US$250,000), and the United Arab Emirates (US$100,000).