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| For Immediate Release | April 13, 2002 |
Statement by
Secretary of State Colin L. Powell
On Humanitarian Assistance
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.