JERUSALEM, Monday, August 26, 2019 (WAFA) - The European Union made a contribution of €20 million to the Palestinian Authority payment of social allowances to vulnerable families in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, said a press stamen issued by Office of the European Union Representative.

The EU supports the Palestinian Authority Ministry of Social Development Cash Transfer Programme responsible for the provision of basic social protection to the most vulnerable families in the West Bank and Gaza. The social allowances are paid on a quarterly basis to some 105,000 vulnerable families, said the statement.

For this second payment in 2019, the contribution of the EU (€20 million) will cover the social allowances of around 71,530 families of which 77% live in the Gaza Strip.

"A social protection system is much more than a shock absorber. Social protection is an investment that strengthens productivity, development and social cohesion. In this context, the EU is working closely with the Palestinian Ministry of Social Development to ensure that basic needs of the most vulnerable families are met ," said the Acting EU Representative Tomas Niklasson.

‘‘This contribution comes at a time where the Palestinian Authority is still facing a challenging fiscal crisis. In line with our partnership and under the current circumstances, we have agreed to double the usual contribution to €20 million by front loading €10 million from our annual commitment. This demonstrates our strong joint commitment towards thousands of families in both the West Bank and Gaza", he added.

T.R.