Briefing by Major Daniel Beaudoin, Deputy Head IDF Foreign Relations Branch
Humanitarian Assistance during the Current Events
8 April 2002
The situation on the ground is very difficult and intense. Great
efforts are being made by Israel to distinguish between innocent
Palestinians and terrorists. This is difficult as the terrorists are
not in uniform. There is great difficulty in assisting the
Palestinian population in conditions of clear and present danger in
the territories. We are working in close cooperation with the DCO and
the Red Cross in trying to organize safe passage to evacuate the dead
and wounded. The Red Cross is now evacuating wounded from Jenin.
This is an unprecedented situation because of the intensity of the
terror attacks and the large number of terrorists. Our greatest
challenge is the policy of granting humanitarian assistance. The
distribution of humanitarian aid is difficult because of continued
terrorist shooting at IDF checkpoints and of DCO officers, who have
also been targeted. We are in close cooperation with the Red Cross to
transfer blood donations, blankets, medical supplies and toys.
Israel has transferred donations to the Palestinians from countries
with whom it does not have relations. Hundreds of transactions of
humanitarian aid are taking place and are not getting media coverage.
Ten dialysis patients have been taken by the Red Cross to Jenin
Hospital; twelve patients were taken to Augusta Victoria hospital and
some patients have been transferred to hospitals in Israel.
There are intermittent electricity problems. We have transmitted
generators to Jenin, Hebron and other areas of need. Regarding oxygen
supplies: in conjunction with the Red Cross we have transmitted 19
oxygen tanks to the Palestinian Authority. The IDF has played a major
part in this transmission.
Israel has evacuated foreign staff of UNRWA and other organizations
to Jerusalem.
The problem of safe passage is critical - terrorists have planted
landmines and booby traps on roads and it is almost impossible to
transfer supplies to some areas.
Bethlehem: the priests and nuns held hostage by the extremists of the
Fatah-Tanzim who are using the Church of the Nativity as a refuge.
The soldiers have been given specific orders not to shoot, even when
being shot at. They have been given specific orders not to shoot at
holy places. The nuns themselves have reported to us that they are
being held hostage. Food is being transferred to the nuns in the
Church, by placing it in the gate.
Food is also being transferred to the terrorists themselves.
Tons of medical supplies, immunizations and powdered milk have been
transferred to the PA.
Jenin & Tulkarm: The curfew was lifted temporarily to enable the
civilians to get supplies.
At this very moment 13 trucks of supplies are being taken to
Qalqilya. The curfew will be lifted in order to distribute the
supplies using back to back methods.
Tons of medical supplies, immunizations and powdered milk have been
transferred to the Ministry of Health in the PA.