DATE=04/09/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=AID AGENCIES/ PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES

NUMBER=2-288482

BYLINE=DALE GAVLAK

DATELINE=GENEVA

INTERNET=YES

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: United Nations aid agencies are moving in food and medical supplies into the West Bank, as long as a lull in Israeli military operations continues in two towns. Dale Gavlak reports from the U-N's Geneva headquarters.

TEXT: U-N relief agencies say that it is still difficult to reach most of the West Bank with needed food and medical supplies for the Palestinians. The Israeli army has pulled out of two West Bank towns, but has given no indication when it will withdraw from other cities and refugee camps.

Israel launched its military offensive on the West Bank against Palestinian militants last month, in an effort to halt a wave of Palestinian suicide bombing attacks against Israelis.

Spokeswoman Wivina Belmonte, of the U-N children's agency, says UNICEF sent convoys with aid to the West Bank towns of Bethlehem and Ramallah Tuesday.

///BELMONTE ACT///

It's the first time that we have managed to get goods in since Friday. The convoy to Bethlehem includes 13-hundred liters of milk, 600-kilos of flour and the convoy that is destined to a government hospital in Ramallah is full of medical supplies.

///END ACT///

The U-N agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA (pron. un-rah) says on Monday, the Israeli army arrested one of its doctors and took over a school and hospital run by the agency, to use as a military post in the Bethlehem area.

UNRWA spokesman Rene Aquarone says Israeli military attacks in Jenin and Nabulus have been extremely heavy. He says that on Monday UNRWA tried to get its own ambulance through the checkpoints to help a patient bleeding to death in the Balata refugee camp in Jenin.

///AQUARONE ACT///

We got clearance, we sent one of our own ambulances through. It was shot at and partially destroyed and that patient has been administered unchecked blood due the impossibility of doing lab tests on the donors.

///END ACT///

UNRWA says it is attempting to bring blood, food, oxygen, blankets and tents to Jenin and Nablus where fighting has been fiercest.

The World Food Program says it is hoping to distribute food aid to hospitals, orphanages and clinics as soon as it can gain access.

The World Health Organization has sent a fact-finding team to the region. W-H-O says it has not yet received a response from the Israeli government to concerns raised by its chief that W-H-O was being denied access to the injured and about the lack of guarantees for the safety of its medical staff. (Signed)

NEB/DG/FC