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OPT: Humanitarian assistance seized from charitable association - Al Mezan calls on Government in Gaza to take measures to guarantee autonomy of charities

Reference: 56/2009

At around 5.40pm on 10 June 2009, police stationed in Beit Hanoun town seized control of humanitarian assistance prepared for distribution by Al-Ataa Charitable Association. The assistance was donated by the Welfare Association and was due to be distributed to people in need in Beit Hanoun and to Jabalia Rehabilitation Association. The police took control of the assistance and distributed it on the basis of a list which the police itself had prepared.

According to information gathered by Al Mezan from sources at the Ministry of Social Affairs in north Gaza and Al-Ataa Association, the Welfare Association donated hygiene kits which were divided into 2000 packages on 15 June 2009. The assistance was intended to benefit residents of north Gaza affected by the recent Israeli military offensive against the Gaza Strip codenamed 'Operation Cast Lead.' Al-Ataa was entrusted with distributing the assistance to other associations in north Gaza district and directly supervising the distribution of assistance to beneficiaries in Beit Hanoun.

According to the director of Al-Ataa association, Ibtisam Omran Az-Za'anin, the distribution of the assistance had been coordinated in advance with the Ministry of Social Affairs and a beneficiary list for Beit Hanoun had been submitted to both the Ministry and Beit Hanoun's police. When Ms. Az-Za'anin protested the seizure of the assistance, the police pushed her to the ground.

According to the director of Al-Ata' Association, the Association allocated the assistance to the following associations:

- Development (Tanmiya and Tatweer) Association in Beit Lahiya for distribution to beneficiaries west of Beit Lahiya

- The Protection of Palestinian Heritage Association for distribution to beneficiaries east of Beit Lahiya

- Life and Hope Association for distribution to beneficiaries in Jabalia refugee camp

- Mercy Charitable Association for distribution to beneficiaries in Beit Lahiya refugee camp

- Jabalia Rehabilitation Association for distribution to disabled persons

- Jabalia An-Nazla Youth Cultural Center for distribution in Jabalia An-Nazla area

A total of 1316 packages were distributed on Tuesday 9 June 2009 and the rest - 684 allocated to Beit Hanoun area and Jabalia Rehabilitation Association - were stored for distribution at 10.30am on Thursday 11 June 2009.

Al Mezan Centre for Human Rights condemns the police interference in the work of non-governmental organizations and stresses that the police is not a monitoring body, but a law enforcement agency which should act on the basis of decisions issued by competent bodies. Al Mezan emphasizes that interference in the work of NGOs disrupts the significant role they play, especially by relief organizations, in alleviating economic conditions in the Gaza Strip. Al Mezan calls attention to the following issues:

1. NGOs have full autonomy from governmental bodies and are subject to the law, and transparent oversight mechanisms mandated by law. Any interference in their work must respect legal parameters.

2. The coordination of relief efforts in the Gaza Strip has been a pressing need for the last decade in order to guarantee that aid reaches those in need, and to avoid duplication in efforts. This requires concerted efforts by the Ministry of Social Affairs to create a database to ensure relief efforts are coordinated. As the aim is to ensure efforts are complementary in order to serve more people in need, NGOs must participate in these efforts.

Al Mezan calls for an investigation into this incident, and for legal steps to be taken in order to prevent the repetition of such incidents. Al Mezan stresses the importance of the Government in Gaza strengthening the role and diversity of civil society organizations as a way of strengthening the resilience of society, and especially the poor and the marginalized.

Ends

Contact:
Al-Mezan Center for Human Rights
5/102-1 Al Mena, Omar El-Mukhtar Street,
Western Rimal, Gaza City, The Gaza Strip,
P.O. Box. 5270,
Telefax: 2820447, 2820442