Bank of Jordan has announced the launch of the multiple relief umbrella for the Gaza strip, targeting in its relief program several important and main criteria to help citizens in the current difficult humanitarian circumstances they are facing in the strip, based on an in-depth study undertaken by the bank with several strategic partners from among international organizations and local institutions on the status-quo to determine the support priorities and the actual urgent basic needs, especially to the categories who did not receive sufficient support and who urgently need attention.

The Managing Director of Bank of Jordan Group Mr. Saleh Hammad stated that Bank of Jordan, in the framework of its social responsibility, is keen to develop a comprehensive relief program based on providing several packages of basic needs to citizens in the Gaza strip, hoping that this umbrella would contribute to alleviate the burden on citizens and to help them in overcoming the difficult humanitarian circumstances they are witnessing.

As to the volume of the “relief umbrella” earmarked by Bank of Jordan, Hammad has clarified that the Board of Directors of the bank has earmarked a budget in excess of $ 1 million to implement the relief umbrella program in cooperation with international relief organizations and local institutions.

Hammad further stressed that the banking sector is among the most important tools for reconstruction and economic development and is the main guarantor of providing all the financial services to all economic and social categories by supporting small and medium sized institutions, coupled with the implementation of social responsibility programs.

In turn, the Chief Executive Officer of the Bank of Jordan in Palestine, Mr. Saif Issa, stated that the relief umbrella program launched by the bank to support the Gaza strip includes six criteria designed to support priorities with the specific goal of providing targeted and active support that directly meets citizens’ needs.

Issa outlined that the program’s six criterion comprise: First, provide direct financial support to one of the most important Palestinian institutions that cares or for cancer patients, especially children to procure medicines they need that had been missing for a long time. The second criterion comprises the delivery, installation and operation of a solar powered sea water desalination plant capable to produce 40/50 cubic meters daily of drinkable water. The third criterion shall include the provision of ladies’ health needs, canned milk for new born babies, in cooperation with a specialized institution.

However, as for the fourth criterion, the bank, shall in cooperation with the World Food Program, provide 369 tons of flour to the Gaza strip that is currently considered the most important among the urgent needs. This would cover the needs of 37 thousand citizens for one month. The fifth criterion shall comprise the provision of hot meals in cooperation with a local partner. The sixth criterion shall include the provision of direct financial support to an institution that cares for orphans in the Gaza strip.

Issa stressed that the implementation procedures shall start immediately in cooperation with the strategic partners who shall implement the six criteria. We hope that the field circumstances shall allow the implementation of the relief programs and the delivery of aid to Gaza strip as soon as possible.

It is noteworthy that Bank of Jordan was among the first financial institutions that started investment in Palestine after the creation of the Palestinian National Authority in 1994. The bank contributed to providing distinguished banking services in the Palestinian territories as it targeted a large segment of Palestinian sectors and helped in developing the local economy.