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Donors pledge Palestinians $500m Donors pledge Palestinians $500m
(30 minutes later)
International donors have pledged $500m (£262m) of humanitarian aid for the Palestinian territories, well above the UN's target figure of $330m. International donors have pledged $500m (£262m) towards aid and reconstruction for the Palestinian territories, well above the UN's target figure of $330m.
The pledge came at a conference in Sweden after UN aid chief Jan Egeland called Gaza a "ticking time bomb".The pledge came at a conference in Sweden after UN aid chief Jan Egeland called Gaza a "ticking time bomb".
Palestinians have been living on restricted aid since Hamas's election victory, and until now the UN had struggled to reach its target.Palestinians have been living on restricted aid since Hamas's election victory, and until now the UN had struggled to reach its target.
On Thursday, donors pledged $940m of help to rebuild Lebanon.On Thursday, donors pledged $940m of help to rebuild Lebanon.
All our dreams are cancelled - everything's cancelled - our priorities are feeding ourselves and just living Government worker Nidha YounisRamallah, West Bank href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/5304328.stm" class="">Palestinians' slow despair Earlier this year the US and European Union froze aid to the Palestinian Authority because Hamas has refused to renounce violence and recognise Israel. Earlier this year the US and European Union froze aid to the Palestinian Authority because Hamas has refused to renounce violence and recognise Israel.
A limited flow was later restored, though aid workers say it is not enough.A limited flow was later restored, though aid workers say it is not enough.
Call for unity
Swedish Aid Minister Carin Jamtin hailed the donors' pledges as "a fantastic result".
All our dreams are cancelled - everything's cancelled - our priorities are feeding ourselves and just living Government worker Nidha YounisRamallah, West Bank Palestinians' slow despair
She said that $55m of the funds would go to meet a shortfall in emergency funding.
A total of $114m would be spent on humanitarian aid, with the rest going towards rebuilding of infrastructure and other projects, she added.
Also on Friday, Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniya urged public sector workers in Gaza and the West Bank to abandon plans for an open-ended strike over the non-payment of their wages.Also on Friday, Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniya urged public sector workers in Gaza and the West Bank to abandon plans for an open-ended strike over the non-payment of their wages.
He said Palestinians needed to remain united in difficult circumstances, and he appealed to teachers to attend their schools at the start of the new academic year on Saturday.He said Palestinians needed to remain united in difficult circumstances, and he appealed to teachers to attend their schools at the start of the new academic year on Saturday.
Mr Haniya was speaking after taking part in a clean-up of streets in Gaza City, where rubbish has piled up because of strikes by refuse collectors.Mr Haniya was speaking after taking part in a clean-up of streets in Gaza City, where rubbish has piled up because of strikes by refuse collectors.
'Living in a cage''Living in a cage'
Since late June, Israel has been conducting a large-scale military offensive in the coastal Gaza Strip, after Palestinian militants captured an Israeli soldier.Since late June, Israel has been conducting a large-scale military offensive in the coastal Gaza Strip, after Palestinian militants captured an Israeli soldier.
LEBANON AID PLEDGES Total pledged - $940mLargest donors include: Qatar - $300mUnited States - $234mArab Fund - $112mSaudi Arabia - $60mEuropean Commission - $54mUnited Arab Emirates - $50mItaly - $38mSpain - $34m More than 200 Palestinians have been killed, while 11 Israeli civilians have been wounded by rocket fire from Gaza.LEBANON AID PLEDGES Total pledged - $940mLargest donors include: Qatar - $300mUnited States - $234mArab Fund - $112mSaudi Arabia - $60mEuropean Commission - $54mUnited Arab Emirates - $50mItaly - $38mSpain - $34m More than 200 Palestinians have been killed, while 11 Israeli civilians have been wounded by rocket fire from Gaza.
Mr Egeland said the Palestinians needed at least as much aid and money as the Lebanese, adding that 1.4 million Palestinians were "living in a cage".Mr Egeland said the Palestinians needed at least as much aid and money as the Lebanese, adding that 1.4 million Palestinians were "living in a cage".
"The border crossings are really closed. They cannot get anything out, this is crippling their economy," Mr Egeland said."The border crossings are really closed. They cannot get anything out, this is crippling their economy," Mr Egeland said.
"There is not enough electricity, there is not enough water. There are social conditions on an intolerable level at the moment."There is not enough electricity, there is not enough water. There are social conditions on an intolerable level at the moment.
"So we need more money but we need also a political solution to this war." There are concerns Palestinians' suffering has been overshadowed"So we need more money but we need also a political solution to this war."
'Hatred and bitterness'
Jan Eliasson, Sweden's foreign minister, said the conference aimed to raise more pledges for a UN flash appeal launched earlier this year.
There are concerns Palestinians' suffering has been overshadowed"The humanitarian situation is critical," Mr Eliasson was quoted as saying.
Unemployment is high, and in Gaza, the UN says nearly 80% of people live in poverty.Unemployment is high, and in Gaza, the UN says nearly 80% of people live in poverty.
One aid worker who returned from Gaza 10 days ago warned that malnutrition was widespread and many new mothers were unable to breastfeed their babies, reports the BBC's Alix Kroeger in Stockholm.One aid worker who returned from Gaza 10 days ago warned that malnutrition was widespread and many new mothers were unable to breastfeed their babies, reports the BBC's Alix Kroeger in Stockholm.
Instead, they were making up bottles with a third of the recommended measure of formula and topping them up with starch.
The result, the aid worker said, would be lifelong damage to those children.
Mr Egeland also warned that, in the 25 years he had been visiting the Palestinian territories, "I've never seen so much hatred and bitterness as during my last visit there."Mr Egeland also warned that, in the 25 years he had been visiting the Palestinian territories, "I've never seen so much hatred and bitterness as during my last visit there."
He urged both Israel and Palestinian militants to cease hostilities.He urged both Israel and Palestinian militants to cease hostilities.