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$15m for holocaust survivors
02/06/2003 18:50 - (SA)
New York - Elderly Holocaust survivors in 31 countries will receive $15m in assistance this year from German insurance companies, advocates for survivors announced on Monday.
The money is the first of what will be 10 annual disbursements from $132m in humanitarian funds secured by the International Commission on Holocaust-Era Insurance Claims.
The German Foundation for Remembrance, Responsibility and the Future agreed to provide the funds in October 2002 after years of negotiations.
The German fund was initially set up to pay out compensation to the estimated one million now elderly people who were forced to work for the Nazi war-machine. It includes contributions by private companies and the German government.
Gideon Taylor, executive vice president of the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany, said the money was a small step toward providing for the needs of Holocaust survivors.
"We do not speak of justice," Taylor said. "We speak of a measure of justice. Today we are trying to make a difference."
The money will be distributed to social service agencies and will be used to provide home care and other services to Holocaust survivors.
Of the $15m distributed this year, $6m will go to Israeli survivors and $2.4 million will be used in the United States.
- SAPA
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