Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ Humanitarian Envoy tours Palestinian relief projects 

14 August United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s Personal Humanitarian Envoy travelled today to the West Bank, where she held discussions with the Palestinian leadership and gained a first-hand look at a number of relief projects in the area.

Catherine Bertini spent the morning in Ramallah, where she met with Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat, a Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ spokesperson said in New York. During their nearly hour-long talks, which were also attended by Palestinian Minister for Local Government Saeb Erakat, President Arafat outlined the humanitarian problems faced by Palestinians as a result of the current situation.

While in Ramallah, Ms. Bertini toured humanitarian projects run by the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµRWA) in the Amari refugee camp. She spoke with humanitarian workers as well the beneficiaries of various programmes, including a summer camp and health centre, spokesperson Hua Jiang told a news briefing.

In the afternoon, Ms. Bertini continued her meetings with other Palestinians, including Hanan Ashrawi, a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, Dr. Mustapha Barghouti, the head of the Palestinian Medical Relief Organization, as well as a number of local business people. She was also briefed on the economic situation by Maher Masri, the Palestinian Minister of Economy and Trade.