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Humanitarian emergency in Palestine

Emergency Alert - 6/06

Background:

Since the Hamas victory in the recent Palestinian elections, the withholding of funds from the Palestinian Authority has worsened the crisis in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. The UN has estimated that 1,350,000 refugees in these areas are currently in need of food aid. It also foresees an increase in the number of refugees dependent on humanitarian assistance.

In addition to the food shortage, the lack of funds has also aversely affected the Lutheran World Federation's Augusta Victoria Hospital, located in Jerusalem. This hospital provides healthcare services to Palestinians through a contract with the Palestinian Authority. The blockage of funds is effectively jeopardizing the lives of thousands of patients who depend on Augusta Victoria for emergency care as well as specialized services such as kidney dialysis and cancer treatment.

LWR AND PARTNERS ARE HELPING

LWR is responding through an initial $75,000 contribution to the global aid alliance Action by Churches Together (ACT) to provide funding to LWF-AVH for:

- 6060 radiation treatments, 420 chemotherapy treatments and ongoing psychosocial care for cancer patients

- 1794 sessions of kidney dialysis, including pediatric dialysis for 26 children

- 480 head-and-neck surgeries for special needs patients

- Safe transportation for staff and patients by a hospital-run bus system

LWR has also more recently given $50,000 to ACT to provide the following to affected civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank:

- supplementary food support for more than 5,000 families

- emergency health services for over 75,000 people

- emergency educational support for vocational students and schoolchildren

- services encouraging self-reliance and the development of small businesses