US announces $15 mln in humanitarian aid to Palestine’s West Bank and Gaza
March 26, 2021, 11:35 am

US announces $15 mln in humanitarian aid to Palestine’s West Bank and Gaza

A Palestinian boy fills a container with water from a public tap On World Water Day, in the Gaza Strip March 22, 2021. (Reuters)

The United States announced Thursday that it was giving $15 million in humanitarian aid to Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. humanitarian aid

“The US Agency for International Development (USAID) is providing these funds to address the most urgent, life-saving humanitarian needs in the West Bank and Gaza,” the State Department said.

Thursday’s announcement was another step taken by the Biden administration to reverse Trump-era policies on Palestinians. Former President Donald Trump halted US aid for the UN agency that helps Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), closed the Palestinian Liberation Organization office in Washington and moved the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Biden pledged to restore aid to Palestinians as one of the steps he would take to help. humanitarian aid

“With this assistance, USAID is supporting Catholic Relief Services’ COVID-19 response efforts in health care facilities and affected communities throughout the West Bank and Gaza,” the State Department said Thursday. “This assistance is also supporting emergency food assistance programming in communities facing food insecurity, which has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This small step in advancing the well-being of the Palestinian people is fully in keeping with American values,” the statement read.

Earlier in the day, US ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said the aid would bring more stability and security to “both Israelis and Palestinians alike.”

This is part of renewed efforts to resume stalled peace talks between Ramallah and Tel Aviv. On Tuesday, a meeting was held between officials from the UN, US, Russia and Europe to reactivate diplomacy in an effort for a two-state solution.

Biden has repeatedly said he supports a two-state solution to end the decadeslong Arab-Israeli conflict. humanitarian aid

source: Joseph Haboush

Image source: Reuters

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”