Jerusalem, 15 August 2001
Humanitarian measures in the territories
(Communicated by the Coordinator of Activities in the Territories'
Spokesman)
Israel is continuing to facilitate the transfer of food and
humanitarian equipment into the PA territories despite the current
security situation. On Tuesday, August 14, 2001, 459 trucks carrying
food and fuel entered Gaza via the Karni crossing as well as hundreds
of trucks transporting goods to the PA territories through other
crossings.
Israel will, in a complex operation that will continue until the end
of the week, transfer to the PA territories approximately 17,000 head
of livestock, veal calves and sheep, that arrived in Eilat from
Aqaba. The transfer is being managed by the office of the
Coordinator of Activities in the Territories.
Inquiries by the Civil Administration revealed that there is a
food shortage in Nablus. On the initative of the Nablus District
Coordinator's Office, the DCO commander approached the Mayor and
Governor of Nablus and coordinated entry of food trucks into the
city. Trucks began transporting food into Nablus as of last
Wednesday and are currently supplying food at a rate tens of
truckloads a day. The food is arriving both from Israel and from
cities in the Palestinian Authority.
The Civil Administration on Tuesday, August 14, 2001, allowed
tens of residents of Jenin to cross into Israel to visit
relatives serving terms in prison. Civil Administration
Spokesman, Major Peter Lerner, clarified that this humanitarian
action is an attempt to allow civilians to continue their normal
routine despite the security constraints caused by terrorist
activities.
Major Lerner noted that the Civil Administration also allowed
residents of Tarkumiyeh into Israel to visit relatives despite
the shooting attack there on Tuesday morning.