GENEVA
United Nations (UN) criticized Israel's segregation policies over East Jerusalem and said that more than 80 percent of Palestinian children in the region suffered from poverty.
UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) released its report titled "Palestinian Economy in East Jerusalem" on Thursday.
The UN report highlighted that Palestinian poverty in Jerusalem had risen steadily over the past decade, and added that 82 percent of Palestinian children, who resided in East Jerusalem, were living in poverty. It was noted that the same figure was 45 percent among Israeli children who resided in the same area.
UNCTAD's report stated, "Israel's segregation policies imposed in East Jerusalem are causing deep economic isolation."
UNCTAD said that Israel, as "occupying power", was not doing much to meet its responsibilities and obligations and more. Israel was called to act vigorous to improve the economic conditions in East Jerusalem and the well-being of its Palestinian residents, as well as end settlement activities and the occupation of East Jerusalem.
According to the data of 2010, excluding the surrounding villages, the Palestinian urban population of East Jerusalem totalled around 282,000, of whom 237,000 reside under the isolation. 64 percent of Palestinian residents in East Jerusalem are under the age of 30.
