UNICEF: Palestinian children under wraps by Israel

Amman, June, 4, 2002, Wafa - American reverend Patrick McNamara was certainly right when he said Palestinian children bear the brunt of violence and occupation. His words echo the repression Palestinians have been living under for the last 20 months as a result of the package of Israeli aggression on the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson reported earlier around 300 children have been killed so far, out of the 1600 Palestinians shot dead by Israeli soldiers since the Al Aqssa Intifada in September 2000. She noted 35 Palestinian children were killed in April alone. B'Tselem, an Israeli human rights organization, stated few weeks ago, more than 100 Palestinian children under the age of 18 are being held in Israeli jails, many of them tortured systematically.

"We are in the habit of hearing everyday more of new killings in the Occupied Territories," said Pierre Poupard, UNICEF's special representative in the Palestinian areas. He said the Palestinian people have got used to the situation and are practicing their new way of living as best as they can, working hard to fulfill their commitments to their families and children.

Different Palestinian human rights organizations reported over 2500 Palestinians are being detained in mass Israeli arrest campaigns, as part of Israel's latest military incursions in West Bank cities, towns, villages and camps. On Wednesday, Palestinian political prisoner Ahmed Al Jarbawi was found dead in his cell in one of Israel's prisons, where he was subjected to torture for months and was being held in solitary confinement.

The present Israeli onslaught has created much disruption in Palestinian society and especially affected children and women. That is why the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) is working to try and create a healthy, socially-improved environment for more than 3.3 million Palestinians on the West Bank and Gaza

In its May report, UNICEF's Jerusalem office stated the recent Israeli military incursions in the West Bank since March has been very difficult for Palestinians, especially women and children.

Since the Israeli aggression began, UNICEF has launched many programs to support the Palestinian children and women in different fields, including education and health. "UNICEF has long been assisting Palestinian children in the Occupied Territories in the education, health and psychological support," Poupard told reporters at a press conference in Amman last week.

"UNICEF's priorities are to ensure children's access to basic health services. The immediate task for us is to support the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) to address the short-term needs of children affected by the current crisis," he added.

According to the World Food Program (WFP) around a million Palestinians, half of them children, are still in urgent need of food assistance due to increased poverty levels. This is not to forget the 4500 Palestinians who have become homeless in their homeland, following Israel's policy of demolishing houses in the Palestinian-ruled areas. International humanitarian organizations recognize the current Palestinian territories as "a haven for people's despair and deprivation." The PNA's Central Bureau of Statistics estimates two-thirds of Palestinian households now live below the poverty line (valued at $340 per month). In the West Bank, about 60 percent of the households are below the poverty line, while in Gaza the figure increases to 85 percent. Extensive internal and external closures in the Occupied Territories have led to severe economic hardship for Palestinian families, which means some 80 percent are living on $2 a day.

Poupard noted UNICEF is working on two programs worth $2.8 million, including $1.8 million given out recently for child psychological support. According to UN organization, around 2 million Palestinian children suffer emotional disorders because of the Israeli incursions.

UNICEF staff members serve the children in different fields. These include supporting immunization, raising unexploded ordinance awareness, and ensuring a safe environment for children. The staff also provide remedial education approaches for children who have been affected by violence and curfews. "UNICEF's support aims to ensure all Palestinian school children receive their need of remedial education," Poupard explained.

As summer nears, the international organization is allocating part of its funding for this year's summer camps, which will be conducted by the PNA and Palestinian NGOs. These camps help school children to maintain their morale and upgrade their psychological-social demands. Poupard noted UNICEF has much food and medicine supplies but lack the access to reach the needy Palestinian families in the West Bank.

He concluded: "The Palestinians are well-educated people. I am very optimistic they will succeed, as the future of the world is for children." The Star reported.