International donors' conference opens the door to money flowing back into Palestinian territories to help the population. Not clear how this can be reconciled with an earlier decision not to help the Hamas government.

Stockholm (AsiaNews/Agencies) – International donors meeting in Stockholm have pledged US 0m in aid for the Palestinian territories, 55 of which will go towards the UN's emergency appeal which was launched last year.

In making the announcement, Swedish Aid Minister Carin Jamtin, the conference's host, hailed the donors' pledges as "a fantastic result".

The money will go some way to alleviate the hardships the civilian population is currently enduring in the Palestinian Territories.

UN aid chief Jan Egeland, who had already warned that the lack of aid had made Gaza a "time bomb", welcomed the news but said a new peace process with Israel was vital.

Aid to Palestinians had been virtually come to a standstill after Hamas took power.

It is remains to be seen how the money is going to reach the population.

Ms Jamtin said that in addition to the 55 millions destined for the UN's emergency appeal, another 114 will be spent on humanitarian aid, with the rest going towards the rebuilding of infrastructure and other projects. 

 

• palestine
• sweden
• donors
• conference
• hamas
• civilian
• population
• 500
• million