gaza crisis

• Humanitarian Assistance to Gaza: USAID has awarded seven new grants to US NGOs and is negotiating another to deliver humanitarian assistance in Gaza.  The total value of the eight new grants is $4 million.  Under six previously awarded grants, which total $1.5 million, USAID’s implementers continue providing food items, including canned cheese and vegetables, noodles, milk, canned beans and hummus, as well as non-food items, such as medical supplies, hygiene kits, blankets, and cleaning materials. Through its on-going grant with World Food Program, USAID has provided 1,729 metric tons of food commodities – wheat flour, vegetable oil, chickpeas, sugar and salt – to 109,000 needy Palestinians.

Youth and Education Development

• Sesame Street Characters Introduce Educational Messages to Palestinian Children:  The life-size Palestinian Sesame Street Muppets Hanin and Karim appeared in front of nearly 600 children from Jenin and Tulkarem in the first two walk-around events in the West Bank.  The Sesame Street characters are touring the West Bank Governorates to introduce educational messages to pre-school and school age children.  “Shara’ Simsim,” the Palestinian Sesame Street project which receives funds from USAID, is being implemented in coordination with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education.

 

eCONOMIC development

• Ideas Presented to Facilitate Movement of Goods into Gaza:  A former Senior Executive with the U.S. Customs and Border protection agency conducted a series of meetings with local, international and Palestinian stakeholders to solicit ideas for moving relief and reconstruction materials into Gaza.  She also met with prominent business people to discuss private sector involvement in the operation of the Gaza crossing points. Finally, she prepared a document outlining the specific steps the US government can recommend to ease current difficulties in the West Bank and enhance the Palestinian Authority’s image. 

water and infrastructure

• School Improvements Raise Health and Safety Standards:  USAID, under its Emergency Jobs Program, completed the construction of a new sanitary unit and a staircase for a boys’ school in Bazaria, a village in the Nablus Governorate. The $70,116 project improved the school’s health and safety standards, benefiting 370 students.  The construction also created employment for 49 Palestinians.

democracy and governance

• Radio Updated Palestinians in Gaza during Crisis:  The USAID supported media program Aswatona, implemented by Internews, played an important role during the Gaza war in providing humanitarian information through Hebron area radio stations to Palestinians in Gaza. Three Hebron-based radio stations, which are part of United Palestinian News Network (UPNN), a network of radio and TV stations formed in August 2008, broadcast humanitarian advice and information to Gazans during the crisis.  In addition, the Gaza-based Alwan Radio, another partner of the media program, provided humanitarian programming eight hours a day.  According to a survey commissioned by Internews, the three Hebron stations were widely listened to, and 92% of the respondents found the broadcasted information helpful or very helpful. The stations continue providing news and information on assistance in the aftermath of the war.