CAIRO, April 26 (UPI) -- U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said the world organization would most likely increase financial aid to the Palestinians.
Concerned at the prospect of a further deterioration in their living conditions in the new political climate under the Hamas-led government, Annan urged intensified donor support to the people Wednesday, adding the Palestinian Authority remains critical to averting a humanitarian crisis.
In a message to a U.N. seminar being held in Cairo, Annan called for "all concerned" to understand the central role played by the Palestinian administration.
"Increased United Nations and non-governmental organization activity cannot fill the void that would be created were the institutions of the Palestinian Authority to be unable to do so," Annan said in the message, delivered by Assistant Secretary-General Angela Kane.
"These institutions, moreover, are the blocks on which we hope to build a Palestinian State," he said. "Bearing in mind all these considerations, the United Nations will continue to work with our partners and the parties to try to find ways to ensure that the needs of the Palestinians are met."
He said that a combination of factors is coming together that could precipitate a humanitarian crisis: key donors have discontinued direct support to the Palestinian Authority; Israel continues to withhold tax clearance revenues it collects on behalf of the Palestinian Authority; and the contraction of economic activity is expected to reduce Palestinian domestic tax revenues.
In addition, he said irregular operation of the Karni commercial crossing between Gaza and Israel and the system of internal closures in the West Bank hinder the movement of people and goods. This exacerbates poverty and unemployment, he continued, adding to the humiliation and hardship already caused by barrier construction and other factors.
