Palestinians living on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip will have access to European Commission-funded medical aid over the next six months.

The European Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO) has drawn up a project worth 3 MECU for medical aid to be managed by UNICEF and non-governmental organisations.

This action follows up aid supplied earlier this year, in programmes carried out by the Netherlands Red Cross, Pharmaciens sans Frontieres (France) and Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP, UK). PsF will work with local NGOs, and will supply hospital laboratories, as well as carrying out training with the local pharmaceutical industry, the Ministry of Health and hospital staff. The Netherlands Red Cross will supply private hospitals, while MAP will supply public hospitals and health centres. The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) will carry out a vaccination campaign.

This grant brings the total allocated for humanitarian aid this year in the West Bank and Gaza Strip to 5 MECU. In 1994, aid totalled 4.7 MECU.