Military

DATE=4/30/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=U-N AID / PALESTINIANS (L ONLY)

NUMBER=2-289270

BYLINE=DALE GAVLAK

DATELINE=GENEVA

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: United Nations relief agencies say roadblocks and curfews are hampering the movement of humanitarian aid to the West Bank and Gaza. But V-O-A's Dale Gavlak in Geneva reports the agencies say some assistance is getting through.

TEXT: U-N officials say the problem of access remains "significant and serious" for humanitarian workers trying to bring food and medical supplies to the Palestinian territories.

The World Food Program says it has delivered food aid to 94-thousand Palestinians in Gaza since the end of March, but could reach only six-thousand Palestinians in the West Bank. It says the West Bank assistance could be delivered only to people in hospitals, orphanages, or homes for the elderly.

Rene Aquarone of the U-N agency aiding Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, says the situation in the territories is getting worse because roadblocks hinder aid from getting to the people who need it.

/// AQUARONE ACT ///

Movement of goods in and out of Israel from the only goods crossing, which is called "Karni," is also very, very limited. And there are serious shortages in food, in cement, in animal feed for chicken farms, and this kind of thing has taken place. UNRWA has had to loan 250 tons of flour to the Palestinian Authority for it to sell to the local bakeries so that people can actually have bread.

/// END ACT ///

The World Health Organization says it has flown emergency medical kits to treat 200-thousand Palestinians to Amman, Jordan, after Israel refused permission for the plane to land in Tel Aviv. It says it hopes to bring the medical aid to the Palestinian territories overland.

Israel's ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Yaacov Levy, says his country is working closely with aid agencies to ease difficulties faced in the Palestinian territories. He says roadblocks and curfews are necessary because of the continued threat of Palestinian suicide bombings.

/// LEVY ACT ///

There are still some difficulties freely moving around because of these major security threats we are still facing. But I can show you a list of massive medical supplies and donations, which came into Israel and the Palestinian territories over the past 10 days from around the world.

/// END ACT ///

U-N officials estimate the Israeli military incursions in the West Bank caused about 300-million dollars worth of damage. They say that includes more than 100-million dollars in damage in the town of Nablus and more than 40-million dollars in damage in the Jenin refugee camp.

The government of the United Arab Emirates says it will fund the reconstruction of the refugee camp at Jenin. (Signed)

NEB/DG/JWH/FC