Highlights
• Tensions increase in the Gaza Strip, due to the slow path of the reconstruction process, the impact of the winter storm on IDPs and in general the protraction of overall insecurity, including power and water shortages and unsafe living conditions for the people affected by the war. Test of rockets continue as well as ground incursions into the Gaza territory and warning fire by IDF to the fishermen off the Gaza shore. No injured reported.
• On 27 January, ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA announced that due to funding shortfalls, the agency was suspending its cash assistance programme in Gaza for repairs to damaged and destroyed homes and for rental subsidies to the homeless. Some demonstrations of protest were held on 28 January in front of the ±¬ÁÏÍøSCO and ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA compounds, with reportedly some demonstrators irrupting into the ±¬ÁÏÍøSCO compound and provoking some damages to it.
• As reported to the Security Council, the situation in Gaza has become extremely volatile again and will continue to deteriorate unless a number of critical underlying issues are addressed with both determination and a heightened sense of urgency. ±¬ÁÏÍø Country Team continue to urge donors to support humanitarian operations and fulfil the commitments they have made in Cairo for the reconstruction of Gaza.
• At regional level, the situation experienced some peaks of tensions with an exchange of fire between IDF and Hezbollah in the Golan and Sheba Farm region. An escalation of hostilities at the border between Lebanon and Israel could seriously affect the already vulnerable security situation in the Gaza Strip,
• The number of IDPs in ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA Collective Centers stands at 10,568.
• On 22 January ±¬ÁÏÍøICEF and the Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA) distributed blankets and warm clothing, to 253 highly vulnerable and needy families across Gaza as part of the ±¬ÁÏÍøICEF Gaza Winterization support aiming at reaching vulnerable families as per needs.
• Two children aged 10 and 16 were injured by !SF during two separate episodes, in Balata and Ramallah; a girl aged 14, detained by Israel since 31 December for stone-throwing, has been sentenced to 2 months of detention and a fine of 6,000 shekels (1,528).
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Gaza conflict 8 July — 26 August 2014 Situation in Numbers 539 children killed (Protection Cluster, 4 December 2014) 2,257 total deaths (Protection Cluster, 4 December 2014) 54,000 children homeless (OCHA, 4 September 2014) 2,956 children injured (Protection Cluster, 4 December 2014) 1,500 children orphaned (Protection Cluster, 1 September 2014) 89 entire families killed (OCHA, 25 August 2014) ±¬ÁÏÍøICEF HAC 2015 Funding Need – Total $37,300,307 Million ±¬ÁÏÍøICEF HAC 2015 Funding Need — Gaza $27,411,129 |
Situation Overview
• On 27 January, ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA announced that it has been forced to suspend its cash assistance programme in Gaza to tens of thousands of people for repairs to damaged and destroyed homes and for rental subsidies to the homeless. Over 96,000 Palestine refugee family homes were damaged or destroyed during last summer's conflict and the total funding required to address that need is USD 720 million. To date, ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA has received only USD 135 million in pledges, leaving a shortfall of USD 585 million. While some funds remain available to begin the reconstruction of totally destroyed homes, the Agency has exhausted all funding to support repairs and rental subsidies.
• The announcement provoked waves or resentment amongst the beneficiaries, who gathered for a demonstration on 28 January in Gaza City in front of the ±¬ÁÏÍøSCO compound, provoking some damages to the building. No one was injured. Robert Serry, Special Coordinator to the Middle East, announced ±¬ÁÏÍø will conduct an urgent review of operations in Gaza in light of the increasing incitement against the United Nations in Gaza.
• According to a recently released report by the ±¬ÁÏÍø High Commissioner for Human Rights, Prince Zeid Ra'ad Zeid al-Hussein, both Israeli and Palestinian parties have failed to adequately investigate the full range of apparent human rights violations committed during the Gaza war last summer, especially grave violations against children.
• On 27-28 January, IDF and Hezbollah had an exchange of fire at the border between Lebanon and Israel, with 2 Israeli soldiers and a Spanish-national ±¬ÁÏÍøIFIL peacekeeper reportedly killed. A potential escalation of hostilities at the border between Lebanon and Israel could seriously affect the already vulnerable security situation in the Gaza Strip, which is already tensed due to the disruption of the aid delivery and the delays in the post-war reconstruction.
• Violent episodes involving children continue: on 26 January, a 10 years-old boy was arrested by under covered police in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Shufat; on 27 January morning a boy 16-year-old was shot in the leg by IDF during clashes near Joseph's Tomb near Balata refugee camp in Nablus in the northern West Bank. The situation remain dire for a 14-year-old girl from Betin, in Ramallah, who has been detained since 31 December with the accusation of stone-throwing. On 22 January, the Israeli military court in Ofer sentenced to two months in prison and fined her ILS 6,000 ($1,528). Protection of rights of children in Israeli military detention is one of the priority areas of intervention for ±¬ÁÏÍøICEF SoP.
• Rafah border opened in both directions for three days on 20-21-22 January, allowing the crossing of more than 2,000 individuals in and out the Gaza Strip. According to the Gaza ministry of Interiors, the Egyptian government has opened the crossing a total of 88 days non-consecutively since last June's mass protests which led to Morsi's ouster. The Rafah border is a vital crossing for the movement of goods and people throughout the Gaza Strip since the Israeli blockade in place as of 2007 and an easing of the crossing would benefit the living conditions of the Gazan population, including children.
• The number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in 15 ±¬ÁÏÍøRWA Collective Centers (CCs) has decreased to 10,568 as of 28 January.
• At least 539 Palestinian children were reported killed as a result of the hostilities in Gaza between 8 July and 26 August, 2014. The child fatalities include 339 boys and 200 girls. 81% of them, or 440 children, were killed during the period of the IDF ground incursion, in the course of 20 days between 17 July and 5 August, this translates to 22 children killed on average per day. At least 2,956 Palestinian children were reported injured or maimed between 8 July and 26 August 2014. In total, a reported 11,100 Palestinians have been injured or maimed, of which children make up 26 per cent. The children injured include 1,938 boys (66%) and 1,018 girls (34%), aged between two days and 17 years.
Summary Analysis of Programme Response
Education and Adolescents
• The first and second phase of the e-voucher programme for shoes and school uniforms have been completed. The programme, which started on 28 October 2014, benefitted 12,482 children, who redeemed the items through the e-vouchers. The programme foresees a third phase which will be launched after the verification of the beneficiary list, which is ongoing.
• The skills development training programme, implemented by ±¬ÁÏÍøICEF in coordination with TAMER, MAAN, Al Nayzak, and Save Youth Future Society continued during the reporting period. Topics covered include creative and critical thinking, communication, problem solving, team work and other non-cognitive skills. At least 17,032 adolescents have been reached since the beginning of the programme, with 1,114 adolescents reached during the reporting period.
• The final ceremony for the Badir 2004 project implemented by Al Nayzak, ±¬ÁÏÍøICEF partner, as part of the Gaza Emergency Response, was held on 25 January and was attended by the ±¬ÁÏÍøICEF Special Representative, the Minister of Education and several school principals. As part of the project, 75 adolescents and youth volunteers co-facilitated 14 weekly sessions on remedial and extracurricular education, and psychosocial activities, reaching 3,138 children in 25 schools. Through the utilization of innovative and interactive tools, based on a well-developed training, children and adolescents received psychosocial support and gained knowledge to take active participation in the society. As a result, besides school sessions, the 75 adolescents are implementing 20 social initiatives in their communities.
Child Protection
• Winter storm response: ±¬ÁÏÍøICEF proceeded with the distribution of winter items in Gaza, in consultation with MoSA and the Shelter cluster. On 22 January, 235 highly vulnerable and needy families received blankets and warm clothing. All five distribution sites were supervised by ±¬ÁÏÍøICEF and MoSA.
• The delivery of psychosocial support to children and caregivers in Gaza is girls, 1,630 boys) with psychosocial support in the reporting period. Additionally, 1,256 caregivers (655 females and 601 males). In total is 34,170 (16,681 girls and 17,489 boys) have received psychosocial support since 15 September. Additionally, 7,206 caregivers (3,600 females and 3,606 males) were reached through awareness raising activities. ongoing. ±¬ÁÏÍøICEF and Palestinian Centre for Democracy and Conflict Resolution (PCDCR) reached 3,236 Children (1,606 girls, 1,630 boys) with psychosocial support in the reporting period. Additionally, 1,256 caregivers (655 females and 601 males). In total is 34,170 (16,681 girls and 17,489 boys) have received psychosocial support since 15 September. Additionally, 7,206 caregivers (3,600 females and 3,606 males) were reached through awareness raising activities.
• Twenty-three Family Centres are providing core child protection services, psychosocial assessment, ERW risk education and outreach to vulnerable children and families. Caregivers of children attending the centers are also targeted through awareness raising sessions on child protection and ways to support the psychosocial development of their children. Thirteen family centers managed by Ma'an Development Center are currently providing child protection services to 19,454 children (11,048 girls and 8,406 boys). Additionally, 6,020 caregivers (4,377 females and 1,643 males) have increased awareness on child protection. The remaining ten Family Centers are managed by Tamer institute for Community Education. The centers are serving a total number of 9,387 children (4,457 girls and 4,930 boys) and 1,632 caregivers (1,302 females and 328 males).
• Fifty-five members of the ±¬ÁÏÍøICEF-WHO led Mental Health Psychosocial Working Group reached 75,017 children through structured group and individual counselling activities since the end of the hostilities. In addition 8,024 adults have been reached with structured group and individual counselling activities.
• ±¬ÁÏÍøICEF, in cooperation with NRC, ±¬ÁÏÍøFPA, ±¬ÁÏÍøICEF and ±¬ÁÏÍø Women held the second phase of the Training of Trainers (TOT) on Case Management. The TOT focused on practicing case management skills with in-depth case studies, as well as providing a half-day session to self-care within a Caring-for-Carers framework. Participants included staff from MOSA, MOEHE, national and international NGOS. They developed a training plan with a view to rolling out the training to case managers in Gaza over the coming months.
• The ±¬ÁÏÍøICEF-led Child Protection Working Group has documented Child Protection programme implementation by 11 partners, reaching 34,542 children and 3,717 adults since the end of the conflict.
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene
• During the reporting period, ±¬ÁÏÍøICEF supported the distribution of 140 tons of chlorine and chemicals for piped-water disinfection to all the WASH facilities, water wells and desalination units in Gaza. The intervention will benefit the entire population of the Gaza Strip, 1.8 million individuals, half of which are children.
• The interventions of rehabilitation and upgrading of water and wastewater networks are ongoing in Khan Younis, Rafah and Middle Area, benefiting 3,000 people (50 per cent children).
• ±¬ÁÏÍøICEF is procuring 6,000 jerry cans with water taps to be distributed to 6,000 affected families in the eastern border areas of all Gaza Strip, as part of the strategy to increase the storage of drinking water.
• ±¬ÁÏÍøICEF in partnership with the Palestinian Hydrology Group (PHG) is planning to distribute safe drinking water in installed filling points in Shajaeya, Beit Hanoun and Khuzaa, targeting 3,000 families affected by the conflict.
Child Health & Nutrition
• Five tons of medical and non-medical consumables were delivered to the Ministry of Health warehouses in Gaza during the reporting period.
• During the same period, ±¬ÁÏÍøICEF-supported MoH Community Health Workers (CHWs), conducted breastfeeding awareness-raising sessions for 853 lactating mothers by thus reaching the total of 22,756 women in 68 Education sessions; awareness-raising session about communicable diseases (NCD) and vaccination were conducted to 927 women and 62 children, reaching the total of 1,710 men, 19,985 women and 3,948 children.
• 15 participants, doctors and nurses, strengthened their skills during a training on the Community-based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) guidelines, organized by the Ministry of Health and ±¬ÁÏÍøICEF.
• The MoH and the Near East Council of 'Palestinian women and children attend an instruction class on Churches (NECC) teams continue to provide breastfeeding for mothers temporarily living in shelters post-natal care at home and in shelters, reaching 327 women during the reporting period. MoH teams continue to provide post natal care at homes. Since 8 July 2014, ±¬ÁÏÍøICEF has reached 5,202 mothers and their newborns in conflict-affected areas, thus exceeding the target of 3,250 mothers.
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Humanitarian leadership and coordination • ±¬ÁÏÍøICEF, as part of the ±¬ÁÏÍø Country Team, coordinates with the Government of National Consensus to support its role in humanitarian response, early recovery and reconstruction. • ±¬ÁÏÍøICEF is co-leading a new Nutrition Sub Group together with Ministry of Health (MoH) in both West Bank and in Gaza. • In cooperation with the Government and other ±¬ÁÏÍø partners, ±¬ÁÏÍøICEF has participated extensively in an ongoing Palestinian Detailed Needs Assessment and will continue to support the development of the recovery framework and strategy. • ±¬ÁÏÍøICEF leads the Child Protection Working Group and affiliated groups for mental health and psychosocial sevices (MHPSS), and for monitoring and reporting of grave violations against children (MRM – Children and Armed Conflict reporting mechanism). These groups have been merged to maximise coordination of child protection responses during the emergency. ±¬ÁÏÍøICEF also leads the ±¬ÁÏÍø Theme Group on Social Protection. • ±¬ÁÏÍøICEF continues to lead the WASH cluster and co-lead the Education cluster with Save the Children, both in Gaza and at the national level, with dedicated staff capacity. |
Funding
±¬ÁÏÍøICEF SoP would like to stress the importance of meeting the urgent humanitarian needs of affected families, which will also contribute to reduced tensions and increased stability. In order to achieve this, additional funds are required to expand existing programmes that are being successfully implemented on the ground.
±¬ÁÏÍøICEF wishes to express its deep gratitude to all public and private sector donors for the contributions and pledged received, which have made the current response possible. ±¬ÁÏÍøICEF would especially like to thank National Committees and donors who have contributed ‘un-earmarked’ funding. ‘Un-earmarked’ funding gives ±¬ÁÏÍøICEF essential flexibility to direct resources and ensure the delivery of life-saving supplies and interventions to where they are needed most – especially in the form of longer-term and predictable funding and in strengthening preparedness and resilience building. Continued donor support is critical to continue scaling up the response.
Note Note 1: Total cash on hand is $15,185,564 of which $10,236,010 is funding received against the appeal for year 2014, and $4,949,554 is budget carried forward from prior years and reallocated to the SoP office.
Note 2: The table does not include the Emergency Programme Funds loan received from ±¬ÁÏÍøICEF HQ of $4 million.
Note 3: The total includes a maximum recovery rate of 8%. The actual recovery rate on contributions will be calculated in accordance with ±¬ÁÏÍøICEF Executive Board Decision 2007/6 dated 9 July 2009.
Next SitRep: 26th February 2015
Costanza Pasquali Lasagni, Reporting Specialist, ±¬ÁÏÍøICEF, SoP, Jerusalem,
Phone: +972 (0)2 584 0455, mobile : +972 (0)54 778 7685,
email :
Download Document Files:
Document Type: Situation Report, Update
Document Sources: United Nations Childrens Fund (±¬ÁÏÍøICEF)
Subject: Access and movement, Armed conflict, Assistance, Casualties, Children, Closures/Curfews/Blockades, Education and culture, Food, Gaza Strip, Health, Humanitarian relief, Incidents, Internally displaced persons, Living conditions, Occupation, Protection, Refugee camps, Security issues, Shelter, Water
Publication Date: 02/02/2015