UN Concerned At Rapidly Deteriorating Health Services In Palestinian Territories
New York, Nov 20 2006 9:00PM
Worried by the rapid deterioration of Palestinians’ access to adequate medical services due to a financial crisis and a
strike by unpaid workers, the United Nations health agency has called on the parties concerned to reach an agreement
guaranteeing essential medical care.
The UN World Health Organization (WHO) also urged the international community to support the Palestinian health sector “in this critical phase.” The crisis
follows the election victory in January of Hamas, which is committed to Israel’s destruction, when Israel stopped
handing over tax and customs revenues it collects on behalf of the Palestinian Authority (PA) and international donors
suspended direct aid.
“WHO is very concerned about the announced reduction of services and the deterioration of vital medical services,” the
agency’s Head of Office for the West Bank and Gaza, Ambrogio Manenti, said in a statement yesterday.
“This will further exacerbate the already difficult humanitarian situation affecting Palestinian lives and their right
to enjoy the highest possible level of physical and mental health,” he added.
Lacking funds, the PA has been unable to pay regular salaries since March. Health workers have since received
provisional allowances through the Temporary International Mechanism established by the European Union (EU) but they
joined a general open-ended strike in August demanding full payment.
WHO cited a September statement by the so called diplomatic Quartet that the resumption of transfers of tax and customs
revenues collected by Israel on behalf of the PA would have a significant impact on the Palestinian economy.
The Quartet, comprising the UN, EU, Russia and the United States, has called on Hamas to commit to non-violence,
recognize Israel and accept agreements already signed between Israel and the Palestinians, in order to permit a
resumption of international funding.
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