RAMALLAH, October 20, 2009 (WAFA)- The Head of the Jerusalem office of the European Commission Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO) Hervé Caiveau

said his organization finances needed relief  programs in  Occupied Palestinian Territory ( OPT).

As a humanitarian aid organization, ECHO’s work is focused on providing aid to the people who need it whatever their political or religious affiliations. ECHO has appointed a liaison officer in Tel Aviv who is meeting the Israeli authorities on a daily basis to coordinate the provision of humanitarian aid.

In a meeting Tuesday afternoon with group of journalists to represent  ECHO's Programs in West Bank and Gaza strip Caiveau said: “ It is very difficult to provide enough humanitarian aid in such an enclosed area like Gaza. It is only once hostilities have stopped that the organizations ECHO is funding – UN agencies and the International Red Cross (ICRC) as well as NGO partners can make a proper assessment of the humanitarian needs. At the moment, access is very limited and a proper assessment is not possible to Gaza and that one of the most difficulties we faced from the Israelis.”

He mentioned: “The relief programs financed by the European Commission covered healthcare, psycho-social support, clean water, sanitation, shelter rehabilitation and protection, Food for impoverished families, Psychosocial support for the children,   as well as measures to boost employment and self sufficiency. The activities were implemented by operational partners - UN agencies, non-governmental organizations and the Red Cross/Crescent movement.”

HE added: “In 2008, the European Commission provided €73 million in aid to the Palestinian Territory making it one of the world’s largest donors of humanitarian aid; around 56% was spent on relief efforts in the Gaza Strip. €3 million in extra emergency funding was allocated in the first week of January to provide Gaza's population with food and items like blankets, soap and cooking equipment, as well as repairing emergency shelters and the provision of further medical support. But the main issue at the moment is not so much a lack of money. The imperative for aid agencies is to gain access to the needy people in  the Gaza Strip and to ensure the security of the aid workers providing assistance.”

He said: “the occupied Palestinian territory has been severely  suffered from critical situation with emergency water supplies. We  targeted Bedouin communities and livestock herders in isolated areas of the West Bank. Emergency water, food and seed distribution to people with insufficient quantities to cover their domestic and livelihood needs; Emergency water and fodder for animals; Improvements to water storage and harvesting installations; Provision of water trucks.”

He ended: “ECHO staff  on the challenges they were facing getting the food to those that need it. Because of the blockage at the frontier, this particular distribution was taking place later than planned. In fact, only small quantities of food and medicines are actually getting in to Gaza  - not enough to meet the demands of 1.5 million people. Humanitarian stocks in warehouses are running low.”