Press Release: Aid to the Palestinians: All elements of the Temporary International Mechanism now operational

The European Commission has started social allowance payments to those in urgent need in the Palestinian Territories. This means that all three elements of the Temporary International Mechanism (TIM) developed by the European Commission, at the request of the European Council and of the Middle East Quartet (EU, US, UN and Russia), are now up and running. The three elements agreed in June 2006 were support for health services, utilities, and social allowances. The new allowances (of around €270 each) will be made to those who have suffered a significant loss of income due to the financial crisis, to pensioners and other social hardship cases. Earlier actions under the TIM have included delivery of fuel to hospitals and water pumps to protect public health, and social allowance payments to Palestinian doctors and nurses, to enable them to continue to work.