JERUSALEM, October 1, 2011 (WAFA) – the European Union (EU) will be making on Monday an almost €9.9 million aid to the Palestinian Authority, its third contribution this year to quarterly payment of social allowances to poor Palestinian households, Saturday said an EU press release.
EU will contribute €8.9 million while Finland €1 million, all channelled through the PEGASE mechanism, the financial mechanism launched in 2008 to support the PA’s three-year Reform and Development Plan, said the press release.
It added that 50,556 eligible Palestinian families, out of 87,000 receiving assistance in the framework of the National Cash Transfer Program will benefit from the €9.9 million contribution and will be identified in cooperation with the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Social Affairs, through the latter's national cash assistance program, designed to provide basic safety net to the poorest and most vulnerable Palestinian citizens.
“In line with the Ministry's objective to reach out to populations in need, this payment will benefit 10,000 new eligible families in Gaza. Around 87,000 poor families and marginalized households in the West Bank and Gaza will receive assistance in the framework of the national cash transfer program,” said Minister of Social Affairs, Majeda al-Masri.
'The EU and Finland are joining efforts to fund this year's third payment of social benefits to the Ministry of Social Affairs' cash transfer program. The EU reiterates the conclusion of the recent donor's meeting in New York (Ad Hoc Liaison Committee) that we should all work alongside the PA in providing predictable budget support to the Palestinian government and assisting it in achieving fiscal sustainability,” said the acting representative of the European Union, John Gatt-Rutter.
He added, “From 2008 to present, PEGASE has been systematically contributing on a quarterly basis to the payment of social allowances to the Ministry of Social Affairs' cash assistance program, representing a total of over €141 million. The Ministry continues its remarkable efforts to support the poorest of the poor in the occupied Palestinian Territory. The EU will continue to be a reliable partner especially at this critical time.'
The release noted that payments will be made across a network of local banks across the West Bank and Gaza. In the West Bank, beneficiaries will receive their allowance directly through individual bank accounts while in Gaza beneficiaries will continue to collect their allowance over-the-counter.
EU concluded that beneficiaries may collect their allowances as of Monday at the bank branch indicated by their social worker.
R.Q./M.S.
