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Reporting Period: 05 October 2015 – 31 October 2015
Highlights
• During the month of October the wave of violence across the State of Palestine and Israel has resulted in 77 people killed (69 Palestinians and 8 Israelis). In addition 7,582 people have been injured, of which 7,392 Palestinian and 136 Israelis.
• In October, 15 Palestinian children were reported killed (12 boys and three girls girls) aged between 3 and 17 years. Thirteen children were killed in the West Bank (Bethlehem, Hebron, Jenin, Jerusalem and Ramallah) and two in Gaza.
• The month of October saw an increase in the number of children arrested compared to the previous report. A total of 110 children were arrested or detained in East Jerusalem up 11% compared to September which marked the beginning of the confrontations. The increase in children arrests compared with the previous quarter is considerably high at 56%.
• UNICEF provided legal assistance and counselling to 81 arrested children. Since the beginning of the project, lawyers in East Jerusalem have provided legal counselling to around 60 percent of children prior to police interrogation.
• UNICEF continued to support NGO partners in ensuring protective presence around schools, especially in Hebron. However, in many instances, the NGO staff was not able to accompany children to/from schools, due to obstructions by settlers and IDF.
• On 20 October, in an effort to help defuse the current tensions between Israel and Palestine, the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon visited the region and met with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Palestinian President Abbas
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2.3 million # of affected population 1 million # of affected children under 18 450,000 # of people targeted in 2015 250,000 # of children targeted in 2015 (Source: UNICEF Humanitarian Action for Children 2015) |
UNICEF State of Palestine Funding Appeal for 2015 USD 39.8 million January — December 2015 Funds Received * USD 29.1 million *as of 30 September, 2015 |
Situation Overview
During the month of October the situation deteriorated, with the most significant escalation in violent attacks and clashes across the West Bank, particularly in East Jerusalem, since June 2014. This resulted in multiple Israeli and Palestinian deaths and injuries, as well as property damage and large numbers of arrests.
A total of 69 Palestinians have been killed, including 15 children, and 7,392 were injured, including more than 300 children, the vast majority in protests and confrontations with Israeli forces. A total of 8 Israelis have been killed, including one child, and 136 injured from attacks carried out by Palestinians.
On 6 October, Israeli forces destroyed two Palestinian homes and partially sealed a third in East Jerusalem—dwellings of families of Palestinian perpetrators of attacks against Israelis. A total of 30 Palestinians, including 20 children, were displaced as a result. In October, a total of 50 Palestinians, including 31 children, have been displaced as a result of seven demolitions carried out by Israeli forces in the West Bank.
In the Gaza Strip, in three separate incidents on 9 and 10 October, Israeli forces shot and killed nine Palestinian civilians, including one child, and injured another 237, including at least 31 children, during protests against recent developments and escalation of violence in East Jerusalem and the West Bank. The protests took place near Erez and Nahal Oz Crossings.
On 11 October, four Israelis were stabbed by an Arab-Israeli assailant at the Alon Junction near Gan Shmu'el in Northern Israel. The victims include three females aged between 14-19 years. On the same day, in Southern Gaza city, a pregnant woman and her two-year-old daughter were killed when an Israeli air strike caused their home to collapse.
On 13 and 14 October, three Israelis were killed and at least 26 others injured in six separate stabbing attacks perpetrated by Palestinians. The incidents included a shooting and stabbing attack on a bus in the East Talpiyot settlement (East Jerusalem); two stabbing attacks in West Jerusalem; two separate stabbing attacks in the town of Ra'anana (Israel); and an alleged stabbing attack in East Jerusalem.
During the reporting period there have been at least 14 rocket firing incidents from Gaza towards Israel and three Israeli airstrikes on Gaza Strip.
At least 31 roadblocks were established in East Jerusalem affecting the movement and everyday life of approximately 130,000 people. Schools were closed several days and children had to cross the checkpoints several times a day, affecting attendance. There have been reported incidents of Israeli forces entering health centers and hospitals and at least nine medical staff injured.
Humanitarian Coordinator Robert Piper visited the Makassed hospital in East Jerusalem and raised concern about recent actions by Israeli security forces in and around health care facilities. He was accompanied during the visit by senior UN officials from UNRWA, UNSCO, UNICEF, UNFPA, WHO and OCHA.
Humanitarian leadership and coordination
UNICEF, as part of the UN Country Team, coordinates with the Palestinian Government to support its role in humanitarian response, early recovery and reconstruction. UNICEF leads the WASH cluster in close cooperation with the Palestinian Water Authority and co-leads the Education Cluster with Save the Children, both in Gaza and at the national level. UNICEF also leads the Child Protection Working Group and affiliated groups on Mental Health and Psychosocial Services (MHPSS), and on monitoring and reporting of grave violations against children (Children and Armed Conflict reporting mechanism). UNICEF co-leads the Nutrition Working Group under the Health Cluster, in close cooperation with the Ministry of Health and WFP, in Gaza and at the national level.
Summary Analysis of Programme Response per Sector
Education and Adolescents
Throughout the West Bank and East Jerusalem, education is severely impeded in at-risk geographic areas, including: seam zones and enclaves; schools and communities near the barrier, settlements, military areas, and isolated communities. Large numbers of Palestinian school-age children continue to experience serious harassment and hurdles on their way to and from school, as well as in school yards and classrooms.
The protective presence and accompaniment of children and teachers continues throughout the West Bank. To respond to the latest escalation of violence an agreement was reached with Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) in efforts to increase international protective presence around schools at risk. This project will cover areas near 12 schools in Hebron benefiting an additional 567 people, 534 children and 33 teachers. During the last two weeks of October, in Hebron, Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI) and Christian Peacemaker Team (CPT) have faced obstructions in accompanying children to/from schools.
During this reporting period, in Gaza, around 10,164 students from grades 3-6 participated in catch up classes in Arabic Language and Math. The activity started in October and will continue until the end of December 2015. Around 518 teachers are running the classes in about 131 schools in Gaza.
Repairs have been completed in 18 schools in collaboration with WASH section benefiting 11,725 students.
In Gaza, during the same period, UNICEF's Adolescent Development and Participation programme has reached 4,578 adolescents with skills development and civic engagement projects through its partners Al Nayzak, INJAZ, PalVision, Tamer, Save Youth Future Society and Ma'an Development Center. Since January 2015 a total of 39,445 adolescents (56% female) have benefited from the programme.
Child Protection
During the reporting period, there has been a sharp increase in the number of children killed or injured in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. In October alone 15 Palestinian children were killed (13 in the West Bank and 2 in Gaza) compared to 5 between January and September.
Increased arrests of children in East Jerusalem continued to be reported in October with 110 children arrested. UNICEF, through its partners War Child and the Wadi Hilweh Information Center, continues to provide legal assistance and counselling, to 81 children who were arrested by ISF during the reporting period.
In Gaza, UNICEF in collaboration with its partners Ma'an Development Centre, and Tamer Institute for Community Education, has provided child protection and structured/focused psychosocial support to 3,326 children and 2,078 caregivers. The support provided by 23 Family Centers and five mobile centers throughout the Gaza Strip, includes case management support to respond to the needs of the most vulnerable children. During the reporting period, 9,730 children and 2,698 caregivers were reached with ERW risk education through radio spots and awareness raising in the Family Centers. Since January 2015 a total of 183,026 people were reached with ERW awareness and risk education, including 95,004 children as part of their school curriculum.
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene
In the West Bank, UNICEF in cooperation with Gruppo di Volontariato Civile (GVC) continued water distribution in water scarcity areas. More than 39,000m3 of water was delivered benefiting 17,273 people.
Preparation and printing of IEC materials to be used for hygiene awareness sessions for students in the West Bank was completed in cooperation with Action Contre la Faim (ACF).
In Gaza, UNICEF in partnership with CMWU is in the process of rehabilitating and upgrading wastewater networks in Khan Younis and Rafah. During the reporting period, 100 meters of UPVC pipes were installed in Al-Amal Area in Khan Younis.
The rehabilitation of Jumaizat Al Sabeel sewage pumping station in Rafah is ongoing in order to mitigate flooding risks in the area. The main pumping station collecting the sewage in Rafah has been exposed to floods in the past years.
UNICEF provided five generators to the Costal Municipality Water Utility (CMWU) which installed them at sewage pumping stations in Moghraqa, Zawaida and Bani Suhaila. UNICEF continued to provide assistance through the WASH Cluster for the distribution of extra amounts of fuel to critical WASH facilities as a result of the frequent and extensive power cuts particularly in Rafah and Eastern villages.
Child Health & Nutrition
In the West Bank, 110, 000 vaccines were delivered to the Ministry of Health benefiting 70,000 children and women. As part of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) 75 doctors and nurses received training during the reporting period.
A two day CMAM training was conducted for 70 Health Care providers from the Ministry of Health, United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and NGO partners. A total of 57,270 vaccines (9,900 TD, 39,600 OPV and 7,770 DT) were delivered in West Bank benefiting 57,270 children.
In Gaza, during the reporting period, a total of 176,400 doses of vaccines (81,000 TD, 32,400 OPV and 63,000 DT) were delivered to the Ministry of Health covering the needs for 176,400 children.
In October, 515 mothers and their new-born were reached through the Postnatal Home visit Programme by the Ministry of Health, the Near East Council of Churches Committee (NECC) and UNICEF. Over 5,830 mothers and caregivers also benefited from awareness sessions on infant/young child feeding practices.
Summary of Programme Results
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2 Target was updated to reflect the revision of WASH SRP project sheet durin the mid-year review. 3 The indicator was changed to reflect the number of cases documented. Previously it was the number of children affected. 4 The voucher programme for school supplies and materials was expanded resulting in more beneficiaries than the target. 5 Protective presence activities are ongoing since the beginning of school year and 300 teachers were added to the target. 6 Target was updated to reflect the revision of Health & Nutrition SRP project sheet during the mid-year review. 7 Offshore procurement of micronutrients is ongoing. Sales orders were raised and released by budget owner since 11 August 2015. Approval from COGAT and Israeli Ministry of Health took longer than the usual period. |
Funding
Meeting the urgent humanitarian needs of affected children and families in the State of Palestine will contribute to reducing the suffering of the affected population and increasing stability. The lack of funding received compared to the amount requested by Education and Child Protection is impacting negatively in the achievement of targets/results. Additional funds are required to expand existing programmes that are being successfully implemented on the ground, especially in the following sectors: Education / Adolescents, Child Protection / Social Protection, and Information Management / Coordination.
UNICEF wishes to express its deep gratitude to all public and private sector donors for the contributions and pledges received, which have made the current response possible. Continued donor support is critical to continue scaling up the response, preventing violence and contributing to stability.
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Whom to contact for further information: |
Roben Picalli Emergency Specialist/HPM, UNICEF State of Palestine Email: rpicalli@unicef.org |
Document Type: Situation Report, Update
Document Sources: United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF)
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: 10/11/2015