World Bank grants $30m. to Palestinians economically harmed by COVID-19
According to the World Bank at least 68,000 Palestinian household have been harmed economically by the pandemic.
By TOVAH LAZAROFFWorld Bank building entrance 370(photo credit: Wikimedia Commons)
The World Bank has granted $30 million to West Bank Palestinians made economically vulnerable by COVID-19 or whose impoverished situation was worsened by the pandemic.At least 68,000 Palestinian household have been harmed economically by the pandemic, the World Bank said in a press release.Some $20m. of the grant will go to helping those families through the bank’s Cash Transfer Project, which prior to COVID-19 already had 21,400 households in need of help.Due to the Palestinian Authority’s economic crisis, it was unable to provide money for the Cash Transfer Project during the second quarter of 2020.Another $8m. will be used to fund 3,000 short-term jobs with the help of nongovernmental organizations, the bank said. Fifty percent of the new jobs will go to women, it said.“The COVID-19 pandemic constitutes an unprecedented challenge with very severe socioeconomic consequences in an already struggling Palestinian economy,” said Kanthan Shankar, the World Bank’s country director for the West Bank and Gaza. “Social protection becomes a priority for the World Bank in the context of increased poverty and job losses. The new project aims to reduce the impact of the shock on workers and households through income protection, and it provides alternative employment for those out of work.”Friederike Uta Rother, the World Bank’s senior social-protection specialist and project task team leader, said: “The combination of emergency financial relief and temporary jobs in social services in the West Bank will not only help ensure a dignified life but will also continue to allow for investment in human capital despite the challenging conditions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
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