Informing humanitarians worldwide 24/7 — a service provided by UN OCHA

oPt

OPT: PCHR strongly condemns attacks on PNGO and CHF offices in Gaza

PCHR Is Gravely Concerned over Increasing Attacks and Robberies against NGOs in Gaza, and Demands Competent Authorities to Investigate these Crimes and Bring Perpetrators to Justice

The offices of the Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations Network (PNGO) and the Cooperative Housing Foundation (CHF) in Abu al-Qumsan Building in al-Shifa Street in the west of Gaza city, were attacked and robbed by unknown persons this weekend. According to Amjad al-Shawa, PNGO Coordinator, when PNGO employees arrived at PNGO office on Sunday morning, 13 December 2009, after their weekend holiday, they found that the office was raided and a sum of approximately US$ 1,000 was stolen. The money was stolen from the offices of the accountant, the coordinator of the capacity building project, the secretary and al-Shawa himself. Al-Shawa added that he did not notice any traces of destruction, including destruction of doors or windows in the office. The incident was reported to the police who opened an investigation.

The office of Riada Project run by CHF located in the same building was also raided by unknown persons; the office was raided and two safes, which were empty, were destroyed. The police arrived at the scene this morning, checked the crime scence and opened an investigation.

PCHR strongly condemns these two attacks and:

1. Demands competent authorities to open investigations, bring perpetrators to justice and announce the results of the investigation to the public;

2. Reiterates the important role played by civil society organizations in the provision of services to the community, especially in light of the tight closure that has been imposed on Gaza. Competent authorities must provide protection to these organizations.

For more information please call PCHR office in Gaza, Gaza Strip, on +972 8 2824776 - 2825893
PCHR, 29 Omer El Mukhtar St., El Remal, PO Box 1328 Gaza, Gaza Strip. E-mail: pchr@pchrgaza.org, Webpage http://www.pchrgaza.org