(Extract)
Occupied Palestinian Territory
The isolation and fragmentation of the West Bank (2.5 million inhabitants, including 754,000 refugees) continue to have a major impact on the Palestinian economy and on livelihoods, with the result that vast segments of a population are still increasingly dependent on humanitarian assistance. Persistent blockade and military operations in the Gaza Strip (1.5 million inhabitants, including 1 million refugees) have brought economic and social structures to the brink of collapse and the provision of essential services is at breaking point, with 95% of the population being dependent on aid. The region has been affected by drought for several years and response measures to deal with its consequences are planned.
DG ECHO's strategy in 2010 will mainstream the protection of civilians and target the most vulnerable segments of the population to satisfy their basic humanitarian needs. In this attempt, livelihood support (meaning food assistance and cash for work) will continue to be a priority for DG ECHO, amounting to as much as 56% of the aid provided. Attention will also be focused on water and sanitation, health and psychosocial support programmes. A strong coordination of all these activities will be supported.
In the West Bank, DG ECHO will primarily target populations in remote and isolated areas such as the seam zones, most particularly Bedouins and herders, thereby accounting for almost 50% of DG ECHO humanitarian aid. In the health sector, actions will focus on areas where closures and movement restrictions hinder access to services. Food distribution will target communities isolated from markets.
In Gaza, DG ECHO-funded humanitarian activities will extend to all the usual sectors of humanitarian aid to be provided in acute crises. Funding for water and sanitation programmes will be limited by the constraints of the current blockade. Other key areas to be supported in Gaza include health and psychosocial support.
Lebanon
The social and civic rights of the more than 400,000 Palestinian refugees living in the Lebanon are very restricted. In the 12 official camps managed by UNRWA (which house 52% of the refugees) as well as 42 non-recognised «gatherings», humanitarian needs remain high. DG ECHO will continue its interventions in the sectors of health, protection, food aid, subsistence, water and sanitation and shelter. Particular attention will be paid to the victims of the Nahr el Bared conflict.
Iraq
The humanitarian situation in Iraq appears to be stabilising despite the large number of displaced persons: about 1.7 million people are displaced inside the country (source: UNHCR) and 295,000 are registered refugees in neighbouring countries, in particular in Syria (224,000) and Jordan (53,000). Access and security problems in Iraq remain relatively acute, which makes the delivery of humanitarian aid particularly difficult. Following an improved Government response, the Commission will reduce its humanitarian aid effort slightly. Protection will remain the priority, with basic service provision for the most vulnerable Iraqi refugees. In Syria, continued drought might make an additional humanitarian intervention necessary.
Yemen
The humanitarian situation in Yemen continued to deteriorate in 2009. The country's scarce coping capacities are under severe pressure due to the war in the Northern Governorates (with access to beneficiaries being hampered by the growing insecurity, even outside the war zone) and the influx of mixed migration from the Horn of Africa. Therefore, DG ECHO will support protection and assistance actions in favour of populations affected by the internal conflict and of the refugees landing on the shores of Yemen.
Saharawi refugees
The situation of Saharawi refugees in the Tindouf camps has deteriorated following the departure of teachers and medical doctors, and as a result of chronic malnutrition. The Commission's humanitarian aid will have to remain at the same level as in 2009 or be increased only slightly. The aid will continue to be invested in basic service provision in the sectors of food aid, health and nutrition, water and sanitation, shelter and basic non-food items. In the current context, a LRRD approach is impossible. However, particular attention will be paid to sectoral coordination, local capacity building, mid-term programming and the reliability of food aid flows.
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