Brussels, 17/07/2006 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission is providing further aid, bringing the total made available to the most vulnerable in the Palestinian population this year to €329 million.
In Gaza, the Commission is taking action for a second time under the Temporary International Mechanism (TIM), following last week's initiative which provided for the distribution of 120,000 litres of fuel to eight public hospitals which have been relying on their emergency generators since the Israeli army destroyed six transformers of the town's electricity power station two weeks ago (see EUROPE 9230 for first use of the instrument put in place by the Quartet to help Palestinians without going through the Hamas-led government). Totalling €105 million, the Commission is extending fuel distribution to 25 care centres and provided fuel to water supply stations, sewage treatment plants and emergency electricity generators: 109 water distribution stations and 27 waste water plants will be covered.
The Commission is also providing food aid, amounting to €20 million, to the most vulnerable Palestinians, with €15 million being channelled through UNRWA, which will distribute food and cash to refugees registered as special hardship cases, and €5 million through the UN's World Food Programme for non-refugees who have been deprived of their main source of livelihood.