Emergency Appeal
Nablus – Appeal 1/2007

                                  Urgent Relief Needed for Nablus City
                                   Caught Under Israeli Military Siege

Jerusalem, 28 February 2007

Appeal Target: US$ 1,000,000
Received to Date: US$ 301,725

A tight curfew has been imposed on the 105,000 residents of the city of Nablus since 25 February 2007 during the most intensive Israeli military campaign in the city since the 2002 reinvasion of West Bank cities. Israeli armed forces are conducting house-to-house arrest raids, which have been especially intensive in the historic old city of Nablus.  The Najah University has closed and a number of large buildings, including the city’s government-operated hospitals, have been surrounded by military forces accompanied by bulldozers. Residents have been ordered to evacuate a number of large apartment blocs and young men arrested as suspected militants. Several houses were reported to be demolished in the ongoing campaign, named “Operation Hot Winter” by Israeli military forces.

Representatives of Nablus local institutions, businesses, health and emergency services have formed an Urgent Relief Committee to assist families who are facing shortages of food and medicine, or who need emergency housing.  Most affected are the poor, the elderly, and families with young children.

Over recent years Nablus has been the target of frequent Israeli incursions in the city and in the three nearby refugee camps which has caused significant loss of life and damage to infrastructure, homes and commercial areas with accompanying financial loss, loss of personal security, and economic stagnation in the West Bank’s largest commercial center.  This Israeli policy has triggered an increase in poverty and unemployment in the once thriving city, which lies in a historic valley now surrounded by Israeli settlements.

   

   

   

In this critical situation, Welfare Association pledges to bring relief to our devastated families in this great city. We are supporting efforts to:

- Repair and install new windows and doors to protect families from the cold weather.
- Deliver basic food supplies to needy people.
- Deliver medications.
- Insure that all casualties receive medical treatment.
- Rent accommodations for people who lost their homes.

Project Completion Date: 30 May 2007
Reporting Schedule:

Midterm and final reports to be submitted to all who responded to the appeal

Summary of Appeal Targets, Pledges/Contributions Received and Balance Requested (US$) up to 12 March 2007

Total Appeal Target: $ (1) million dollar
No. of contributors: (11)
Less: Pledges/Contr. Recd.: $301,725
Balance Requested :$698,725

For Donations:

Welfare Association                               Welfare Association
Arab Bank - Shmisani Branch                Arab Bank-Geneva Switzerland
Amman - Jordan                                     SWIFT code: ARBSCHZZGVA
Account No.:0118 - 9917 - 501 J.D.    Account No.:102252000104 $US
Account No.:0118 - 9917 - 511 $US    IBAN: CH 30 8719 7225 2000 04333

REf: Nablus Appeal

For more information please contact: Resource Dev., Communication & Media

                                                        Proposed Budget
                                                     (Nablus Emergency Appeal 1/2007)