Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
A European statement issued in Brussels said that as the humanitarian situation in the Middle East continues to deteriorate, the European Commission will provide 125 million euros in humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people in 2024. This new funding will support humanitarian organizations working in both Gaza and the West Bank.
In Gaza, where humanitarian needs are at an all-time high, the focus will be on life-saving emergency response, restoring access to basic needs such as water, food, health care, shelter and sanitation. The humanitarian response will also prioritize protection of the most vulnerable groups, psychosocial support and education in emergency situations.
In the West Bank, where many Palestinian communities are at risk of displacement, or are already forcibly displaced, EU-funded humanitarian projects will provide protection services, such as legal aid or material assistance to people affected by settler violence or confiscation or loss of private property. livelihoods, and will support their access to basic services and education in emergency situations.
EU-funded humanitarian aid is provided in line with the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence. It is delivered through UN humanitarian agencies, NGOs and the International Committee of the Red Cross, as well as many of their local relief organisations.
The statement indicated that with each passing day, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is worsening. In response, UNHCR quickly mobilized its wide range of emergency response tools. By organizing a total of 30 humanitarian flights, 1,000 tons of aid have already been sent to people in need in Gaza.
The European Union has been providing humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in need since 2000, and supports people affected by emergencies and shocks.
The large-scale military operation that followed the October 7 Hamas terrorist attack, combined with the full blockade imposed by the Israeli government on Gaza, has brought the already dire humanitarian situation in Gaza to a catastrophic level for its population of 2.2 million. Nessma. The statement concluded by saying that in response to the escalation of violence in the Middle East, the European Commission quadrupled its humanitarian funding. This brings the total humanitarian funding allocated to the Palestinians in 2023 to 103 million euros.