5 May 2009
East Jerusalem
In response to UNRWA’s 2008 Emergency Appeal, the regional government of Balearic Islands in Spain contributed with EUR 150,000 to the Emergency Food Aid programme for Bedouin and other herding communities in the West Bank.
UNRWA’s cooperation with the Balearic Government started in 2007 with the signature of a four-year Memorandum of Understanding between the regional government and the Agency. This agreement was signed by Deputy Commissioner General, Mr. Filippo Grandi, during his visit to the islands in June that year.
The Balearic contribution to this project has successfully enabled the distribution of wheat flower to a total of 18,789 Bedouin or other vulnerable herders during the second round of food distributions in 2008. Bedouin and herding communities have been particularly affected by the West Bank Barrier and the associated restrictions on movement which have meant access to pasture lands becoming increasingly restricted while food prices have increased drastically. Many herding families have found themselves unable to maintain their herds an have therefore lost their livelihoods.
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