Middle-east Arab News Opinion | Asharq Al-awsat

European Commission seeks ways to stave off humanitarian crisis in Palestinian territories | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) – The European Commission said Friday it was looking at alternative strategies to help the Palestinian people who could face increased food shortages because of the international opposition to their Hamas-led government.

With 1.4 million people there already living off food aid, a collapse of the cash-starved Palestinian Authority could swell that number by another million, officials said.

“This new phenomenon will aggravate the situation and increase pressure on all humanitarian partners,” said European Union spokesman Amadeu Altafaj Tardio. He said EU Humanitarian Aid Commissioner Louis Michel was preparing a decision to approve ¤34 million (US$43 million) in additional assistance, primarily food aid, to help the Palestinians.