Palestine losses from drought amount to $400 million

The Palestinian Authority evaluated the value of the losses which it suffered due to the drought that afflicted the West Bank and Gaza Strip in 1998/99 at $400 million.

The Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation called on the donor states for urgent donations valued at $400 million to buy food for animal wealth and build water reservoirs, adding out that the Palestinian authority inserted the dryness problem in its

Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Nabil Shaath said: "We are obliged to transfer 30% of the donor states' funds to confront the effects resulting from drought," adding that the funds directed to the agricultural sector are still small. He said there are "obstructions made by Israel by refusing to give us licenses for constructing agricultural roads and reclaiming the lands in the regions it occupies."