PALESTINE CANNOT BE KEPT WAITING, WARNS GUILDFORD MP

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 19th Mar 2003

Sue Doughty has warned that the humanitarian situation in Palestine could worsen before the planned peace talks take effect.

Sue said:

"While Palestine continues to suffer, the Middle East as a whole will be placed at further risk from extremists. It is essential that peace negotiations commence as quickly as possible, and that the humanitarian agencies are allowed full access to all areas."

Last month Christian Aid released a highly critical report of the situation in Palestine, which identified the growing crisis facing the Palestinian people though loss of land, of home and the break up of communities. Large numbers of Palestinian people are at risk of starvation and in some areas access to medical and humanitarian aid is limited to brief periods each day. Almost three quarters of Palestinian people now live below the UN poverty line, and half the population needs extra food to ensure minimum dietary requirements.

Sue Doughty recently met a number of Quakers who have been working in Palestine. They brought with them further information, together with pictures of the eight metre high wall which is being constructed around the West Bank by the Palestinian authorities