Brussels, 26/07/2011 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has decided to earmark €4 million to reduce the effects of water scarcity affecting the occupied territories of Palestine. The decision, which has been in effect since 13 July, opens the way to funding for the provision of water to around 50,000 people and livestock in the West Bank. The Commission says that special attention will be paid to those worst affected by the combination of drought and restrictions imposed by Israel, in the south of Hebron, the north of the Jordan valley and other parts of zone C (where there are Israeli settlements, buffer zones and the Judea desert and a large part of the Jordan valley). The Commission's humanitarian aid will allow food assistance to be provided to 4,000 livestock farmers and their families, i.e. around 25,000 people. The farmers' livelihood will be safeguarded by the provision of animal feed. In this region, rainfall has been 59% below average for the rainy season. (F.B./transl.jl)