HEADQUARTERS PRESS CONFERENCE BY UNRWA COMMISSIONER-GENERAL

Press Briefing

HEADQUARTERS PRESS CONFERENCE BY UNRWA COMMISSIONER-GENERAL

The Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), Peter Hansen, told correspondents this afternoon that there had been no lessening of tension in Gaza, the West Bank and Jerusalem. Four more Palestinians had been killed today, bringing the death toll to 164. The total number of casualties, which was rarely discussed, stood at over 6,000, many of whom were disabled for life. It would put a great toll on the humanitarian machinery in the area. In the meantime, Israeli forces continued to uproot every growing thing along the main road through Gaza to hinder anyone coming near the road in less than full visibility. The continuing destruction was a sad sight, he said.

The damage to the Palestinian economy was critical, with a loss of $4 million every day to the economy. Sixty-four million dollars had disappeared from the Palestinian national income because of closures and the loss of opportunity to work in Israel. Some $230 million had been lost because of the strictures placed on imports and exports. Many supplies were beginning to run low in the areas under closure in the West Bank.

The agency was presently working on an emergency appeal to enable it to provide food and medical aid to those most affected by the current unrest, he said. There were now 10,000 UNRWA staff in Gaza and the West Bank. The clinics were open full time and ambulances were in full swing.

If there was any good news, he said, it was that after long delay the famous Gaza hospital was open and could receive wounded. There was great pressure on the medical facilities in Gaza and the West Bank.

How is the peace programme implementation progressing? he was asked. He replied that the peace implementation programme initiated during the earlier intifada had been integrated into UNRWA's normal programme budget. It did not have the same level of funding as under the first intifada. That might be coming, however. It was often the case, unfortunately, that when the level of suffering was greatest, the flow of resources was greatest.

Continuing, he said that currently UNRWA was facing a $30-40 million budget deficit. There was a question as to whether the agency would make it through December. Perhaps emergency assistance would lessen the cash-flow deficit -- but there would still be a deficit.

In response to a question, he said that in accordance with UNRWA policy, the youth centres, women's centres and community centres were being turned over to the communities themselves.

Asked how many casualties there were among the youth, he said he did not have a breakdown on casualty figures. Among the fatalities, however, just short of half the Palestinians who had been shot dead were 18 years of age or younger. Using that total, one could extrapolate a number for the wounded and figure that there were about 3,000 casualties under the age of 18.

Hansen Briefing - 2 - 1 November 2000

In response to a question about how many of the 6,000 casualties were still hospitalized, he said he did not have figures for that. Those with light wounds were being sent home as quickly as possible because the pressure on the hospitals, especially on a Friday, was great. Hospitals liked to start out on Friday mornings with empty beds. Only the critical cases and those on life support occupied beds. Normal hospital work had by and large come to a halt. There was no elective surgery.

In addition to the hospitals, he continued, there were medical teams in the field. Some of the agency's vehicles had been converted into mobile clinics near the flashpoints where most of the damage was done.

How much was the emergency appeal asking for, and what was the launch date? a correspondent asked. He said the agency had to coordinate with the other agencies in the system in a consolidated appeal. For Gaza, UNRWA needed about $30 million in food and medical aid and cash assistance for the unemployed. For the West Bank, the agency needed around $20 million.

He went on to say that the response to the immediate flash appeal was encouraging. The appeal had raised $1.5 million in a few days for emergency medical supplies and ambulances.

Given the situation with helicopter gunships and rockets, were UNRWA staff endangered? a correspondent asked. What measures were taken to keep from becoming one of the casualties? Had there been any injuries? she continued. Mr. Hansen said that there had been casualties among UNRWA staff. He had just recently visited an ambulance driver who was shot while carrying a patient into his ambulance. The agency had had trucks with up to 18 bullet holes.

With regard to security, the agency had gone to “security phase three”, meaning that all non-essential staff and dependents had been relocated. No international staff had been relocated. At its headquarters in Gaza, the agency had had a partial relocation to its other headquarters in Amman, where it was safer. He noted that despite the pictures on television, if staff were careful not to run between stone-throwers and Israeli forces at the hot spots, the danger level was not that high. One had to be cautious and avoid unnecessary movement, but staff did not feel as though they were walking around in mortal danger every day.

In reply to a further question, he said the staff was overwhelmingly local. Some 60 were international.

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