13 April 2002
Powell Expresses Concern Over Situation of Palestinians
(Secretary announces increase in U.S. aid for Palestinian refugees)
(470)
Secretary of State Colin Powell expressed concern April 13 over the
"serious humanitarian situation of the Palestinian people," and called
on Israeli forces to "exercise the utmost restraint and discipline"
during their current military operations in Palestinian areas.
Speaking in Jerusalem during his peace mission to the Middle East,
Powell also announced that the United States would contribute an
additional $30 million for emergency Palestinian refugee assistance,
beyond the $80 million that the United States contributes annually.
Following is the text of Powell's statement:
(begin text)
Humanitarian Assistance to Palestinian People
Secretary Colin L. Powell
Jerusalem
April 13, 2002
The United States is deeply concerned about the serious humanitarian
situation of the Palestinian people. Israeli forces must exercise the
utmost restraint and discipline, and refrain from the excessive use of
force in the conduct of military operations, in order to ensure that
civilians are protected and to avoid worsening the already grave
conditions inside Palestinian areas. We call upon Israel to respect
international humanitarian principles and to allow full and unimpeded
access to humanitarian organizations and services to provide basic
humanitarian services, including evacuation of the wounded and
deceased. In this regard, we are particularly concerned at the
humanitarian situation in Jenin.
I have just had the opportunity to meet with representatives of two
humanitarian organizations that have a vital role to play in providing
relief to the Palestinian people. The United Nations Relief and Works
Agency (UNRWA) has been charged since 1949 with providing education,
health, relief and social services to the Palestinian refugees. The
International Committee of the Red Cross protects and assists the
victims of conflict. We pay tribute to the courageous efforts of these
agencies and their staff.
To demonstrate the United States' long-standing support for the
welfare of the Palestinian people, I am pleased to announce that the
President signed yesterday a determination that allows us to
contribute an additional 30 million dollars in support of UNRWA's
emergency programs in the West Bank and Gaza, beyond the 80 million
dollars we provide UNRWA annually.
Through the United States Agency for International Development, we are
also providing 62 million dollars in accelerated assistance for health
care, water system repairs and emergency food aid.
We call upon the international community to do all that it can to help
at this time of exceptional Palestinian need. The United States
welcomes the invitation of the Norwegian government to convene a
meeting later this month of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC),
composed of key members of the international donor community, to
consider both urgent and longer-term assistance, development, and
reconstruction needs of the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian
people.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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