São Paulo – The Brazilian government is coordinating actions to send humanitarian aid to Palestinians victimized by the ongoing conflict between the Hamas group and Israel in Gaza. Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Relations has filed requests to the Presidency of the Republic, for shipping food, and to the Ministry of Health, for medications. The Foreign Ministry and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) are accepting donations in cash, which will be sent to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (Unrwa).
On Friday (22nd), the general coordinator for International Anti-Hunger Action at the Foreign Ministry, Milton Rondó Filho, said cash donations can already be made to the UNDP’s bank account in Brazil. The account was opened last Tuesday (19th) on occasion of the World Humanitarian Day. The UNDP will forward the money to Unrwa, since the latter has no representation in Brazil. The Unrwa will use the cash to address the priority needs of the wounded and dislodged. Humanitarian aid to the conflict’s victims, amounting to roughly 1.8 million people, is estimated at over US$ 360 million.
Rondó also said the Foreign Ministry has requested the Presidency of the Republic to ship more food to Gaza. The country already supplies aid to five million Palestinian refugees via the Unrwa. Brazil donated cash last year and 11 tonnes of rice this year. Due to the ongoing conflict, however, Brazil will likely send more rice and beans, in amounts yet to be defined.
The Foreign Ministry has also called on the Ministry of Health to provide medication to Palestine. The list of medication includes first-aid kits and medicine, which must be sent by government because these items undergo Israeli inspection before entering Palestinian territory, and since medications are controlled-use products, their access is regulated. “As soon as we get approval on the amount of food and medicine, we are shipping the items to Gaza,” said Rondó.
Last Wednesday (20th), the government of the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul launched a campaign to collect donations to Palestinians. Donors can make deposits to a current account. The cash will also be sent to the Unrwa.
On that occasion, the Palestinian ambassador in Brasília, Ibrahim Alzeben, acknowledged the efforts of the Brazil and Rio Grande do Sul governments. “The decision to help the Palestinians is a sovereign initiative from the governments of Brazil and Rio Grande do Sul. On behalf of the Palestinian people, I thank you for your efforts,” Alzeben told ANBA last Thursday (21st).
Service
Donations can be made through transfers or deposits:
UNDP
Citibank
Branch: 0008
Current account: 96910550
CNPJ (Taxpayer Number): 03.723.329/0001-79
Donations can be made through deposits:
Government of the State of Rio Grande do Sul
Banrisul
Branch: 0100
Current account: 03.358022.0-6
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
