Saudi Arabia urges stronger global action to protect children in cyberspace at UN    911 emergency centers handle over 2.8 million calls in March    Musk's X is suing India, as Tesla and Starlink plan entry    Tesla sales plunge after backlash against Elon Musk    Saudi Arabia posts SR49.8 billion travel surplus in 2024 as visitor spending hits SR153.6 billion    World leaders call Trump tariffs 'wrong' and 'unjustified'    Israel announces expansion of military operation in Gaza to seize 'large areas' of land    US cancels visa of Nobel Peace Prize winner Oscar Arias    Danish prime minister refutes US claim on Greenland on visit to the Arctic territory    Aubameyang fires Al Qadsiah into King's Cup final with stoppage-time winner over Al Raed    Cristiano Ronaldo joins Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves    Saudi Arabia welcomes trilateral border treaty between Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan    Swedish table tennis legend Jörgen Persson appointed head coach of Saudi national team    Danilo Pereira fires Al Ittihad into King's Cup final with dramatic stoppage-time double    Tebuk emir reviews rain response in Tayma    Saudi Arabia considers rent cap as part of major real estate reforms    Screen time in bed linked to insomnia, study finds    Mexico bans junk food in schools to fight childhood obesity epidemic    Sweet sales surge ahead of Eid as Saudi chocolate imports top 123 million kg in 2024    Saudi creatives shine at Jeddah's Fawanees Nights with art, fashion, and storytelling    Bollywood actress vindicated over boyfriend's death after media hounding    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    King Salman prays for peace and stability for Palestinians in Ramadan message King reaffirms Saudi Arabia's commitment to serving the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims    Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan 'out of danger' after attack at home in Mumbai    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Dire economic situation in Palestine requires integrated response: UN
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 12 - 11 - 2021

A piecemeal approach to the current political, economic and security challenges in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) only risks perpetuating a continuing crisis, according to a new UN report published on Thursday.
"Short-term fixes, focused on stabilizing and managing recent crises are necessary, but not sufficient", stated UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Tor Wennesland.
Issued by the office of the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process (UNSCO) for next Wednesday's meeting in Oslo of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee – the principal policy-level coordination mechanism for OPT development assistance – the report calls for coordinated and integrated response to resolve an increasingly precarious situation for all Palestinians.
Describing the economic and fiscal situation as "dire", the UNSCO report highlights the urgent need to address it head on.
Years of economic stagnation in the West Bank was followed by a sharp GDP per capita decline in 2020.
And the economy continues its multi-decade decline in the Gaza Strip, with persistently high unemployment – particularly among women.
"It is increasingly difficult for the PA (Palestinian Authority) to cover its minimum expenditures, let alone make critical investments in the economy and the Palestinian people", said Wennesland.
Along with other longstanding shortages of public funds, which are contributing to the crisis, Israel continues to deduct and hold a portion of so-called clearance revenues, which the Government unilaterally equates the amount paid by the Palestinians to its prisoners, their families, or the families of those killed or injured during attacks.
Given the severity of the crises endured so far this year, the report calls on the Israeli Government, Palestinian Authority, and the international community to work together on an integrated response in the coming months.
It first calls for the immediate economic and fiscal situation facing the PA to be addressed and its institutions to be strengthened, with a near-term focus on delivering public services.
Secondly, the report advocates for the end of hostilities that began on 21 May between Israel and militant groups in Gaza and for economic development support in the Strip.
Finally, it urges a sustainable and inclusive economic recovery that improves the livelihoods of all Palestinians, including women, young people, refugees, and other vulnerable groups.
The report warns that the situation across the OPT remains extraordinarily fragile as tensions continue in East Jerusalem; violence lingers over settlement activity, demolitions and evictions; and Israeli security operations in Area A continue to undermine the PA and Palestinian institutions and diminished prospects for any two-State solution.
To move forward on key political questions and for progress on each of these tracks, Special Coordinator Wennesland upheld the need for governance and socioeconomic reforms along with sustainable, policy changes.
"Action can help unlock international donor support and new sources of public and private finance", he said while warning that unilateral moves that exacerbate flashpoints or drive the conflict, would risk jeopardizing any progress toward improving the situation in the OPT and further deter extra funding. — UN News


Clic here to read the story from its source.