DanChurchAid

Dansk version

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West Bank/Gaza

Country profile

The euphoria after Israeli withdrawal from Gaza was strong but short-lived. Arriving to and departing from Gaza is still so difficult that trade and traffic between Israel, the West Bank and the rest of the world is almost impossible.

The challenges facing the Palestinians have also become crystal clear. They need to establish democracy in a society where politics are characterised by undemocratic and fundamentalist movements. The Palestinian Authority is weak and there are no strong, political structures to enforce law and order and contribute to basic political formation.

No money for food

By the end of 2005, FAO, the UN organisation for food and agriculture, estimated that 40 per cent of Palestinians live on the brink of starvation. Not because of lack of food, but because people cannot afford to buy enough food.

In some places, unemployment is almost 70 per cent, and the Israeli security barrier prevents many farmers from cultivating their land. At the same time, 450,000 olive trees on the West Bank have been uprooted to give space for new settlements, roads and security zones around the settlements. The settlements occupy land cultivated for generations by Palestinian farmers. Through DanChurchAid, Danish churches and private persons have created hope for peace by sponsoring 3,000 new, small olive trees to replace the uprooted ones.

No access to special hospitals

The Israeli security barrier makes access to Jerusalem even more difficult for Palestinians living on the West Bank. This is a disaster for the chronically ill, as all Palestinian special hospitals are situated in Jerusalem. Even patients and hospital staff with humanitarian travel permits often find closed Israeli checkpoints. Augusta Victoria Hospital at the Mount of Olives, supported by DanChurchAid since the early 1950s, operates its own bus service in an attempt to ensure patients and staff access to the hospital.

Victory to Hamas

According to international election observers, the Palestinian general elections in January 2006 were free and fair, and Hamas won the majority of the seats in the legislative assembly. Hamas’ victory has given cause for much speculation about the political future and efforts to create a just and lasting peace. DanChurchAid continues to support health activities, to work on women’s rights and to support both Israeli and Palestinian partners monitoring the governance of their political leaders. Where still possible and meaningful, DanChurchAid supports initiatives for peace and reconciliation.