European Union and Palestinian Authority provide social allowances to over 46,000 Palestinian families facing hardship through PEGASE
The European Union and the Palestinian Authority have today launched the payment of social allowances to over 46,000 vulnerable Palestinian families across the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt). The assistance takes the form of an allowance of NIS 1,000 (around €200) per household, which is being channelled through the European mechanism, PEGASE.
The 46,025 families who will receive this assistance have been identified in cooperation with the Ministries of Finance and Social Affairs, through the latter’s "Social Hardship Cases" Programme. The Palestinian Minister for Social Affairs, Mahmoud Habbash, said today of the programme: "The contribution of the European Union has helped us to meet our obligations towards those who most need our support. We share a common objective of alleviating poverty." Mr. John Kjaer, the European Commission Representative in Jerusalem added: "The European Union has promised time and time again that it will not let the Palestinians down. Today's contribution is a tangible expression of that promise, which we hope will help to ease the difficulties faced by many families throughout the territory. This is particularly important during the holy month of Ramadan."
Compared to the payment made in June, an additional 5,000 families will receive the allowance; more than half of the recipient families are from Gaza strip. Beneficiary families can collect their allowance in 39 designated bank branches throughout the territory until 30 October 2008.
This is the third payment of social allowances under the EU's PEGASE mechanism, bringing the total amount contributed so far to over NIS 128 million (over €24 million).
PEGASE is the main financing mechanism of the European Union, the largest donor to the Palestinians. PEGASE programmes are designed to meet priority needs as identified by the Palestinian Authority in the Palestinian Reform and Development Plan.
Contact:
Haifa Siam, Press and Information Officer, European Commission, 02 541 5888
Khaled Al Barghouthi, Deputy General Director to Combat Poverty, Ministry of Social Affairs, 0599328586