Geneva, Switzerland (12 Dec 2017) – With the U.S. President’s announcement of the recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and of the intention to move the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, CARE expresses concern that this action creates a new obstacle to a just and peaceful resolution to the conflict that has resulted in Palestinian families living as refugees for last 70 years.
CARE promotes just and non-violent means for preventing and resolving conflicts at all levels, noting that such conflicts contribute to poverty and the denial of rights. CARE urges the U.S. government not to overlook the harmful and lasting effects of the ongoing humanitarian situation for families in the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and Gaza.
CARE, as a humanitarian and development agency, remains greatly concerned that:
- All 2 million people in Gaza require some type of humanitarian support, including 1.4 million long-term refugees. (UN OCHA)
- Some 300,000 people in Palestinian communities in Israeli-controlled Area C (60 percent) of the West Bank face restrictions on movement and access to services such as health, education and their ability to maintain their livelihoods. (UN OCHA)
Since 1946, CARE has supported vulnerable families in Israel and the Palestinian territories of Gaza and the West Bank with CARE Packages©, food distribution and vocational training. Today, CARE supports families’ access to medical services and strengthens their ability to earn a living from small agricultural production and other small business. In the last few years, CARE has reached over 60,000 families (400,000 people) annually with the support of various government donors.
Our programs work to support the rights of poor and marginalized people, including women and youth, to reach their full potential and to contribute to a vibrant, equitable and accountable Palestinian society that includes economic development and self-determination based on international human rights law and international humanitarian law.
At CARE, our vision is to “seek a world of hope, tolerance and social justice, where poverty has been overcome and all people live with dignity and security.” We call on all actors and stakeholders to take actions that promote a peaceful resolution of the conflict to ensure peace, security and prosperity for Palestinians and Israelis.
About CARE:
CARE is a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty. CARE places special focus on working alongside poor women and girls because, equipped with the proper resources, they have the power to lift whole families and entire communities out of poverty. Last year, CARE worked in 94 countries and reached more than 80 million people around the world. To learn more, please visit www.care-international.org.
For more on our work in West Bank and Gaza, click here.