da jerusalem post

(16:25) EU official slams Israel
By Constant Brand, The Associated Press


BRUSSELS, Belgium - A top European Union aid official slammed the Israeli government Tuesday for denying humanitarian organizations access to areas caught up in fighting between Palestinian gunmen and Israeli forces.

EU Development Aid Commissioner Poul Nielson said Israel was "obliged to respect" the 1949 Geneva Convention, which allows for rapid access to those in need of humanitarian aid like food, water, medical care or shelter.

Nielson reiterated EU appeals to immediately allow humanitarian workers into West Bank towns where heavy fighting has left hundreds injured or dead, and thousands more without food, electricity or medicine.

Israel launched a military offensive three weeks ago in the West Bank to root out groups responsible for deadly attacks on Israeli civilians over the past 18 months. During its offensive it blocked all access into towns.

"There are no circumstances which justify this and countries which purport to be democratic have a special responsibility in this respect," Nielson said. "Denying access to those who desperately need help is wholly unacceptable."

The EU announced two weeks ago that it would send a further 5 million euro (dlrs 4.4 million) in emergency aid to Palestinians, but complained that its humanitarian aid office, ECHO, and other relatedÝrelief agencies had been refused access.

The 15-nation bloc provided Palestinians emergency relief worth 30 million euro (dlrs 26.4 million) last year alone to fund restoration of water supplies and health care services.

A further 15 million euro (13.2 million dollars) has been budgeted so far for this year.

Last weekend, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell announced dlrs 30 million U.S. contribution for the UN Relief and Works Agency, which looks after Palestinian refugees, on top of the dlrs 80 million already contributed annually.

The EU also sends funds to UNRWA, spending euro 55 million (48 million dollars) per year. Nielson wasÝmeeting Tuesday in Brussels with UNRWA General Commissioner Peter Hansen to discuss the situation.

UNRWA has also appealed for access to the camps and notably the Jenin camp, to help survivors and collect the bodies in the aftermath of intense Israeli-Palestinian fighting.

Nielson spoke during his presentation of ECHO's 2001 annual report. The aid office spent 544 million euro (479 million dollars) on aid in 60 countries last year, Nielson said.

Most was sent in response to natural catastrophes such as the earthquakes in India, El Salvador and Peru, and to conflict zones such as the Middle East, Afghanistan, Chechnya and the African Great Lakes.

Nielson said that thanks to recent efforts at the EU's head office to cut red tape, response time to unfolding crises has improved.

"The decision is taken and the aid can be dispatched within 72 hours," he said.