Sweden gives millions more in Palestinian aid

[Stockholm]

STOCKHOLM, Feb 20, 2006 (AFP) Sweden's state-run aid group on Monday pledged more than five million euros in additional aid to the Palestinian territories as Israel and the United States halted much of their funding following Hamas's election victory.

"The humanitarian situation in the West Bank and Gaza Strip has worsened," the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) said in a statement, adding that it would provide 50 million kronor (5.3 million euros, 6.4 million dollars) to the United Nations' aid programs there.

In 2005, SIDA donated nearly 100 million kronor to the Palestinian territories, a spokesman for the group told AFP.

The additional aid was necessary since Israel was not living up to its responsibility as an occupying power, Peter Lundberg of SIDA's humanitarian unit said in a statement.


more http://www.sweden.se/templates/cs/NewsML____12744.aspx?newsid=1619

[movonne]

1. I would love to live in Sweden...too old to move there now...

[tatertop]

2. Thank You, Sweden! I hope many more follow

[Tom Joad]

3. According to the fourth Geneva convention.....

"According to the fourth Geneva convention, the occupying power has a particular responsibility to support and ensure the human dignity of the occupied," he said.

"Since Israel is not living up to its responsibility under international law, large parts of the Palestinian population are now completely dependent on international humanitarian aid," Lundberg added.

The situation is likely to deteriorate further after the Israeli cabinet on Sunday authorized a series of restrictive measures against the Palestinian Authority, including a halt in the monthly transfer of custom duties in response to Hamas's rise to power following last month's elections.