GAZA, July 30 (Xinhuanet) -- A Palestinian popular emergency committee was formed on Saturday to look after lands of settlement in southern Gaza Strip to be evacuated.

    "The committee was formed to protect Mawasi residents and offer all kinds of support to them," said Khaled Bardaweel, chief of the committee.

    Bardaweel said the committee will work to ensure services and health care to the residents and form sub-committees to face any emergency that might occur during an Israeli pullout.

    Iyad el-Laham, spokesman of the committee, said the committee will hold a first aid course to train a group of young men preparing for the withdrawal.

    "The committee and the Public Health Ministry are cooperating toorganize a first aid course for 60 young men from the Mawasi area, Khan Yunis and Rafah who live in areas near the settlements," he said.

    The committee, the first of its kind in the Mawasi area, includes representatives from all walks of life, including doctors,engineers, teachers and workers.

    Some 7,000 Palestinians live in the Mawasi area, which is surrounded by the biggest Gush Katif settlement block in the Gaza Strip. Enditem