CHURCH WORLD SERVICE: EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROGRAM
CWS/ACT APPEAL: PALESTINIAN EMERGENCY RELIEF
EMERGENCY ACCOUNT # 6806
(In support of ACT appeal MELP - 11 for $241,027)
CWS goal: $50,000
MARCH 9, 2001


SITUATION: The casualty toll in the Palestinian territories is increasing
as the on-going violence dominates the lives of the civilian population.
Restricted freedom of movement and loss of jobs are contributing to a
rapid economic decline that is pushing larger sectors of the population
below the poverty line. The most vulnerable group remain Palestinian
refugees in Gaza and the West Bank.


RESPONSE: CWS is responding ecumenically by supporting the Lutheran World
Federation (LWF) through the Augusta Victoria Hospital in Jerusalem and
the Village Health Clinics, which continue providing emergency medical
assistance to the civilian victims of the conflict. These partners had
been supported through a previous CWS appeal, issued Nov. 1, 2000.
(account # 6805; see www.cwserp.org)

The goal of this appeal is to continue providing emergency and health
services to the wounded and injured in the current conflict as well as to
provide health services to treat patients that normally need primary care
and specialty services, but do not have access during the crisis period.

This includes providing emergency medical care to the critically wounded;
to maintain the emergency and surgery units in a state of readiness; to
provide access to health services for refugees and other West Bank
Palestinians; provide services to housebound patients as well as other
patients needing regular medical treatment who do not have access to these
services; provide kidney dialysis treatments for the increased number of
kidney failure patients who are being treated at Augusta Victoria
Hospital.

The targeted beneficiaries include injured young men but also older men,
women and children have also been wounded or injured in the conflict.
There are approximately 180,000 Palestinians in Jerusalem and more than 2
million in the West Bank.  The beneficiaries will ultimately be those who
are in need of care at Augusta Victoria Hospital, in refugee Camps or in
Palestinian villages that are served.


CWS RESPONSE: CWS is urging strong denominational support for the ACT
efforts and is seeking $50,000 in denominational support.

For further details about the response, including specific budget items,
contact CWS ERP. Or visit the ACT web site at www.act-intl.org

To support Church World Service Response efforts in the Palestinian
territories, please send support to Account # 6806.


CHURCH WORLD SERVICE, Attn. Palestinian Emergency Relief, #6806, P.O. Box
968, Elkhart, IN 46515.  Phone pledges or credit card donations:
1-800-297-1516, ext. 222.  On-line contributions to:


Call the CWS HOTLINE for updates: (800) 297-1516.  For further information
about disasters to which Church World Service is responding, contact CWS
Emergency Response.

Telephone: (212) 870-3151
E-mail: cherlinger@ncccusa.org
After-hours emergency pager: (800) 780-0853
Web site: www.cwserp.org


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