JERUSALEM, Monday, April 17, 2023 (WAFA) - The European Union, France and Spain today provided €26.3 million for the payment of social allowances through the National Cash Transfer Program benefitting 70,108 vulnerable Palestinian families out of a total of 106,596 families. The remaining 36,488 families are covered by the Palestinian government budget.

A statement by the European Union office in Jerusalem said the EU supports the Palestinian Authority’s (PA) Ministry of Social Development (MoSD) for the provision of basic social allowances to the most vulnerable families in the West Bank and Gaza through its Cash Transfer Program (CTP). For this payment, the European Union has more than doubled its usual financial contribution providing €26.3 million, of which France allocated €8 million and Spain €1.5 million channeled through the PEGASE mechanism.

"Social protection is a priority and a basic human right that should be maintained and protected by the governments all over the world. In Palestine, the European Development Partners have helped the Palestinian Authority in creating its own social protection system that includes a Cash Transfer Program to support the poorest and most vulnerable. This program is currently facing unprecedented challenges due to the prolonged PA fiscal crisis. This contribution, co-funded by Spain and France, demonstrates once again our joint European commitment towards the Palestinian people as we continue to call for reliable and timely payment of social allowances through this program," said the EU Deputy Representative Maria Velasco.

“In these difficult times, France is proud to support the Palestinian government in answering the needs of its population through social allowances for the most vulnerable. With the help of our contribution, many poor and vulnerable Palestinian families will receive a much-needed support from the Ministry of Social Development. This support is key to help reduce poverty and mitigate the socio-economic crisis in Palestine”, said the Head of the French Cooperation, Guillaume Robert

"For many years, Spain has been providing reliable and predictable support to the Palestinian Government for the delivery of essential public services to the Palestinian population, ensuring ownership and contributing to the reduction of multi-dimensional poverty. This year our support is focused on meeting the urgent needs of the most vulnerable households identified by the Ministry of Social Development, with social assistance benefits", said the Head of the Spanish Cooperation, Ventura Rodríguez García.

M.K.