Obama Authorizes $20 Million for Gaza

The American President Barack Obama authorized $20.3 million last night from a special emergency fund for Palestinian refugees and emigrants to provide a portion of the necessities they require after the damage caused by the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip. With this amount, the total financial support which Washington has presented as humanitarian aid to the Palestinians during the 2009 fiscal year thus far has amounted to approximately $120 million, $60 million of which has gone to the Gaza Strip. Of the $20.3 million, $13.5 million will go to UNRWA, $6 million to the International Red Cross and $800,000 to the UN to improve humanitarian conditions.

The State Department said the funds which Washington presented today were in addition to the $85 million presented last December to UNRWA to cover a portion of its requirements for the year 2009. Of the $85 million, $25 million was allotted for emergency operations which UNRWA conducted in the West Bank and in Gaza, while $60 million was allotted to support services which UNRWA offered to nearly 4.5 million Palestinian refugees in the region, including the population of Gaza. UNRWA also offered food aid and basic medical and education services to nearly 70% of Gaza residents.

The State Department said that it, along with other international participants, is devoted to the rebuilding and redevelopment of the Gaza Strip.

Also yesterday, 17 Palestinian citizens were injured in confrontations with Israeli Occupation forces on Tareeq Bin Ziad Street in the southern region under Israeli security control in Hebron on the West Bank. This happened yesterday after Friday prayers. It was reported that medical treatment was provided to the 17 citizens, eight of them children, who were wounded by bullets as well as bullet fragments.