Holy Land: agencies say need for aid is critical
International development and humanitarian aid agencies have issued an urgent call for the international community and donor governments to continue providing aid to the Palestinian people While the international community reacts to the recent Palestinian Legislative Council elections, the agencies stress that the humanitarian situation in the Palestinian territories remains grave, and may even deteriorate further if current and additional humanitarian and development activities are jeopardized. Currently, 60% of the population live under the poverty line. The agencies say the humanitarian needs of the Palestinian people and their children have not changed as a result of recent political developments. The signatories include: Quaker Service; Caritas Jerusalem; the International Orthodox Christian Charities-Jerusalem; International Christian Committee-ICC; Japan International Volunteer Center-JVC; Kvinna till Kvinna Jerusalem; The Lutheran World Federation-LWF; Mennonite Central Committee; Norwegian Church Aid; Solidaridad Internacional