State of Palestine: Humanitarian Situation Report – UNICEF update

• The Israeli government's withholding of an estimated USD 375 million in Palestinian tax revenues it collects on behalf of the Palestinian Government, has led to increased tensions in the State of Palestine. This is jeopardizing the regular provision of public services and exacerbating the tense relations between the Palestinian Government and Hamas over the provision of services in the Gaza Strip.

• Three children aged 2, 3 and 13, were wounded by the explosion of an UXO on 17 February, which they found outside their home in the north of the Gaza Strip.

• UNICEF responded to the flooding of the Wadi Gaza, on 22 February, by providing children's clothing, blankets, and adult and baby hygiene kits to 99 affected families through the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS), in coordination with the Shelter Cluster and the Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA).

• The number of IDPs in UNRWA Collective Centers stands at 9,490.

• Six months after the fragile ceasefire that ended the tragic summer hostilities in Gaza, the situation in the Strip is far worse than before the conflict. Limited access to essential and public services and slow reconstruction have increased the population's vulnerability and hampered their copying skills.

• Nearly 300,000 children in the Gaza Strip are still in need of psychosocial support, six months after the ceasefire. UNICEF, through the Palestinian Centre for Democracy and Conflict Resolution (PCDCR), has provided psychosocial support to 40,817 children (19,871 girls and 20,946 boys) since 15 September 2014. Additionally, 7,919 caregivers (4,000 females and 3,919 males) were reached through awareness raising activities.

Situation Overview

• Tensions are high in the State of Palestine as the Israeli government is withholding an estimated USD 375 million in Palestinian tax revenues it collects on behalf of the Palestinian Government. The amount might be released after the Israeli political elections scheduled on 17 March, 2015 or used to cover unsolved electricity bills to the Israeli Electrical Corporation, which provides electricity to some areas of the West Bank. The lack of access to financial resources by the Palestinian Government jeopardizes the regular provision of public services and exacerbates the tense relations between Fatah and Hamas over the provision of services in the Gaza Strip. As a result, the daily lives of the Palestinian population, 52% children, are affected and suffer from the political paralysis and disrupted social and public services. 

• Six months after the fragile ceasefire that ended the summer hostilities in Gaza, the situation has deteriorated. Limited access to essential and public services and slow reconstruction have increased the population's vulnerability to external and internal shocks and are jeopardizing the early recovery efforts carried out so far, thus negatively affecting the population, particularly children's and women's, coping skills.

• The 2015 inter-agency Strategic Response Plan (SRP) for the State of Palestine was launched on 12 February 2015. It appeals for USD705 million to carry out 207 projects by 77 organizations, including 64 national and international NGOs and 13 UN agencies. Almost 80 per cent of the funding sought is to provide shelter and non-food items and to enhance food security among vulnerable Palestinians. Over 75 per cent of the requested funds target needs in Gaza. As part of the SRP, UNICEF is appealing for USD 37.7 million to cover immediate humanitarian needs for 16 projects in the West Bank and Gaza in the following sectors: WASH, Education, Child Protection, Health and Nutrition, Cluster Coordination

• The number of children victims of the war keeps rising, as three children aged 2, 3 and 13, were wounded by the explosion of an UXO on 17 February, as they found it outside their home while playing and brought it inside, in Al-Twan neighborhood, in the north of Gaza Strip. It is estimated that, after the war, some 8,000 UXOs and ERWs were left on the Gazan territory, exposing the population, particularly children, to a high risk of accidents. Children are paying the highest toll of the conflict, as 2,955 children were injured and 540 children have died as a direct result of the conflict.

• The second winter storm of the year, that in February hit the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza, severely affected vulnerable families who are struggling to survive the harsh weather conditions. Some use unsafe heating systems, such as fires and electrical heaters to stay warm. In Gaza, on 17 February, a 16-months-old child died, and two brothers were injured after a fire broke out in one of the school shelters in Beit Hanoun in the Northern Gaza Strip due to a short circuit. In the West Bank, on 25 February, a 22-year-old mother and her 2-months-old baby died due to a fire in their house in Nablus city as a result of a makeshift heater. In Hebron a fire broke out in a multi-story apartment, resulting in the death of three children of the same family, aged 3, 4 and 15. The remaining brothers and the parents were injured.

• Rafah border has been closed in both directions since 22 January, 2015. An estimated 30,000 Palestinians are waiting to cross into Egypt including patients and students. Out of this number, 17,000 Palestinians are registered at the Palestinian Ministry of Interior in Gaza for prior travel. The Rafah border is a vital crossing for the movement of goods and people in and out of the Gaza Strip. Since the Israeli blockade in place as of 2007, Rafah is the only alternative to Erez border crossing to exit and enter the Strip. An easing of the crossing would benefit the living conditions of the Gazan population, including children.

• The number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in 14 UNRWA Collective Centers (CCs) has decreased to 9,490 as of 26 February.

Summary Analysis of Programme Response

Education and Adolescents

• The skills development training programme, implemented by UNICEF in coordination with Tamer, Ma'an, Injaz, Al Nayzak, and Save Youth Future Society, has reached 21,804 adolescents (54% girls) since the beginning of the programme in September 2014. During the reporting period, 7,939 adolescents benefitted from different trainings and initiatives, including Social Forum, media training, Active Citizen training, core-skill and skill development training, inspirational and literary sessions and the launch of the Badir 2015 project, aimed at supporting adolescents' skills development and initiatives in the Gaza Strip.

Child Protection

• Winter storm response: in response to the latest flood in Gaza, UNICEF provided children clothing and blankets to the 99 affected families within 24 hours through the Palestinian Red Crescent Society in coordination with the Shelter Cluster and the Ministry of Social Affair (MoSA).

• The delivery of psychosocial support to children and caregivers in Gaza is ongoing. UNICEF and PCDCR has provided psychosocial support through group and individual counselling, emergency visits and open days to 6,647 Children (3, 190 girls, 3,457 boys) and 713, caregivers (400 females and 313 males) in the reporting period. In total 40,817 children (19,871 girls and 20,946 boys) have received psychosocial support through UNICEF since 15 September. Additionally, 7,919 caregivers (4,000 females and 3,919 males) were reached through UNICEF awareness-raising activities on children positive psychosocial development and child safety and security.

• The work of the 23 Family Centers in Gaza is ongoing. The Family Centers offer organized recreational activities for children and adolescents, and provide 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 31,516 children (17,620 girls and 13,896 boys) and 8,354 caregivers (6,711 females and 1,643 males). The remaining ten family centers are managed by the Tamer institute for Community Education and are serving 23,990 children (13,953 girls and 10,037 boys) and 2,153 caregivers (1,636 females and 517 males).

• 28 member organizations of the UNICEF-led Child Protection Working Group and the UNICEF/WHO led Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Working, though 60 local NGOs, have reached a total of 77,101 children with child protection and psychosocial services since July 2014. 63,846 children benefited from structured group activities, and 13,255 children from individual counseling and case management services. In addition, 12,082 adults benefited from structured psychosocial activities and counselling. Children were also reached through open days, recreational and psychosocial first aid activities.

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene

• During the reporting period, 128 cubic meters of chlorine and 55 cubic meters of chemicals were distributed for piped water disinfection to WASH facilities, water wells and desalination units in all Gaza. This is a continuous program that is covering all WASH facilities, benefiting the entire population (1.8 million, 52% children) of the Gaza Strip.

• The rehabilitation and upgrading of water and wastewater networks in Khan Younis, Rafah and Middle Area is ongoing, benefiting 4,350 people during the reporting period.

• Distribution of 6,000 jerry cans with water taps to 6,000 affected families, benefitting around 26,000 people, in the eastern border areas of all Gaza Strip to increase the storage of drinking water.

• UNICEF and WFP distributed e-vouchers to 243 families affected by the flooding in different areas in Gaza for redeeming hygiene items as part of the Winterization Response.

• 198 adult hygiene kits and 99 baby hygiene kits were distributed to 99 families affected by the recent flooding in Wadi Gaza through PRCS.

• 496 adult hygiene kits were distributed to 496 marginalized families in Rafah through ACF, for a total of 1,388 adult beneficiaries.

• Two water wells in middle area are undergoing repairs in the areas of Nusseirat and Zahra, in order to increase the access to piped water by the communities and benefit 17,000 inhabitants.

• As part of the Winterization Response, UNICEF through CMWU provided cleaning and rehabilitation works of storm water networks in flood prone areas of Urn Al Nasser, Rafah, Al Fukhari and Wadi Salqa areas.

Child Health & Nutrition

• 1.5 tons of medical consumables (0.051 syringes) were delivered to the Ministry of Health's (MoH) warehouses in Gaza on 25 February.

• During the reporting period, UNICEF-supported MoH Community Health Workers (CHWs), to continue the breastfeeding awareness-raising sessions, reaching 5,869 lactating mothers. The programme has reached 28,655 lactating women during 68 sessions since the beginning of the programme.

• Awareness-raising session about communicable diseases and vaccination involved 5,317 women, 23 men and 155 children during the reporting period. In total, 26,155 women, 1,752 men and 4,103 children were reached since the beginning of the programme.

• The MoH and teams from UNICEF partner the  Near East Council of Churches (NECC) continue to provide post natal care at homes. During the reporting period, 552 women benefitted from home visits. Since the onset of the summer hostilities on 8 July 2014, UNICEF has reached 5,754 mothers and their newborns in conflict-affected areas.

Funding

Meeting the urgent humanitarian needs of the affected families will contribute to reduced tensions and increased stability. In order to achieve this goal, additional funds are required to expand existing programmes that are being successfully implemented on the ground in the following sectors: WASH, education, child protection, health and nutrition.

UNICEF 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. 'Un-earmarked' funding also gives UNICEF essential flexibility to direct resources and ensure the delivery of life-saving supplies and interventions to where they are needed most. Continued donor support is critical to continue scaling up the response.

* Note: Total cash on hand is $14,935,969 of which $9,579,481 is funding received against the appeal for this year, and $5,356,488 is budget carried forward from prior year.

Next SitRep: 26^th March 2015

UNICEF State of Palestine: http://www.unicef.org/oPt/ 

UNICEF State of Palestine on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/unicefstateofpalestine 

UNICEF State of Palestine on Twitter: https://twitter.com/UNICEFpalestine 

UNICEF Humanitarian Action for Children 2015: http://www.unicef.org/appeals/state of palestine.html 

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