Development

Walls of separation

Daleep Mukarji 18 June 2003

Christian Aid director, Dr Daleep Mukarji, has recently returned from Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. While in the West Bank town of Qalqilya he witnessed the construction of the Israeli security fence which will eventually surround the West Bank. 

Iraq: Hundreds of Palestinian refugees evicted by landlords

19 June 2003



Haifa Sports Club used to be a Palestinian cultural centre in Baladiyat in northeastern Baghdad. The Palestinian flag flies high with a sign next to it saying “No to settlements and yes to the right of return”. But since the fall of Saddam Hussein, some Palestinians have found themselves discriminated against and homeless. Now the club has been turned into an informal refugee camp to accommodate about 250 families. 

Head of World Food Programme to visit occupied Palestinian territories

World Food Programme 11 June 2003

With increasing numbers of Palestinians becoming dependent on international food aid, the Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Programme, James T. Morris, on Wednesday began in Jerusalem a three-day visit to review first hand WFP�s efforts to provide food aid to Palestinians impoverished by deteriorating security and economic conditions over the past two years. 

Beit Hanoun - Attacks against civilians and their property

Médecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) 23 May 2003

The long series of Israeli military incursions into the town of Beit Hanoun in the Gaza strip continues and intensifies. The latest gives rise to violent offensive against civilians and their property. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), present in Gaza since the beginning of the Al Aqsa Intifada, deplores the wanton destruction of people’s lives and is alarmed at the medical, psychological and material consequences on local families affected by this disaster. 

Recent developments give 'glimmer of hope' to Middle East peace process - UN envoy

United Nations 19 May 2003

The situation in the Middle East provided for a “ray of light and a glimmer of hope”, Terje Roed-Larsen, Special coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative of the Secretary-General to the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority, said this afternoon at Headquarters as he answered correspondents’ questions about his briefing to the Security Council yesterday. 

18 UN agencies and NGOs protest Gaza closure

United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East 19 May 2003

On 11 May 2003, the Israeli authorities closed the Erez crossing between Israel and the Gaza Strip in both directions for internationals, except for holders of diplomatic visas or passports. The closure affects virtually all international staff of United Nations organisations, NGOs and other humanitarian and development agencies. 

Housing situation in the occupied Palestinian territories and establishment of a human settlements fund

UN-HABITAT 8 May 2003

The existing conflict in the occupied Palestinian territories has had a negative impact on human settlements and a large number of houses and related infrastructure networks have been destroyed. Since the start of the second intifada around 40,000 dwellings have either been damaged or destroyed. 

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