Reaching Vulnerable Children and Youth. June 16-17, 2004 The World Bank, Washington DC. Palestine (West Bank and Gaza)

Transcription

1 Reaching Vulnerable Children and Youth June 16-17, 2004 The World Bank, Washington DC Palestine (West Bank and Gaza)

2 Historical Background 1948 War Almost 800,000 Palestinians became refugees after the War. Entire Palestinian villages were eliminated War Resulted in the full occupation of Palestinian territories. Additional hundreds of thousands of Palestinian became refugees as well. Palestinians under occupation are deprived from all their human and political rights.

3 Primary Statistics According to estimates of mid 2002, Palestinian population was 9,209,773, both in OPT and exile. Of this number, 3,464,550 live in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Children under 18 years of age represent almost 50% of the Palestinian population. Statistics and figures used in this presentation are provided by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS).

4 Primary Statistics Population Density In Gaza Strip, population density represents one of the highest among the world. It reaches 2,100p/km2, especially in Refugee Camps. In the West Bank, population density reaches 380/km2.

5 Current Situation Since the beginning of the Intifada in September 2000, the Palestinian people have been living under unprecedented severe conditions. This is a result of the direct and structural violence of the Israeli occupation, such as closure, curfews, roadblocks, incursions, settlements, and now the separation wall that Israel is building inside the West Bank.

6 Jewish Settlements in the Occupied Territories

7 Separation Wall in the West Bank

8 Economic Situation Unemployment ratio among Palestinians reached 32.5%. World Bank estimated that 21% of the Palestinian population were poor in 1999; this figure increased to more than 60% by % of Palestinian children, thus, live under poverty line.

9 Humanitarian Situation The humanitarian situation, similar to the economic, has been dramatically deteriorating. Closures resulted in regular shortage in basic human needs, such as food, medicine and other humanitarian services. In the West Bank, the situation is even worsening due to the establishment of the Israeli Separation Wall.

10 Map of the Roadblocks and Checkpoints

11 Children: General Situation Children represent more than 50% of the Palestinian society, and the most vulnerable group of this society. Children have been critically affected by the daily violence, such as bombing, destruction of their houses, roadblocks preventing them from reaching their schools, and other measures.

12 Children: General Situation Damages to residential property, schools, health clinics and water and electricity infrastructure by the Israelis are still widespread. Closures and curfews left people, and thus children, without access to schools, health facilities, or recreational facilities.

13 Child s Health According to USAID report, almost 21% of Palestinian children suffer from chronic malnutrition. 45.2% of death occurrence among children of 5-19 years of age, were caused mainly by firearm missiles by Israeli occupation.

14 Child s Health Up to 80% of Palestinian children suffer from behavioral problems, including: Increasing level of violence. Sleeping problems, with feelings of fear and anxiety. Changes in attachment to family and community. Various emotional and cognitive problems such as inability to concentrate. Decreasing hope in the future.

15 Child Laborers According to PCBS survey, 3.1% of children aged 5-17 years are workers (wage employee or unpaid family member). Data showed that 72.8% of employed children are working to contribute to household economic needs.

16 Children in conflict with the Law Number of children in conflict with the law increased due to changes in society such as unemployment, poverty, domestic violence, losing parents or care givers due to death or imprisonment. The total number of juveniles who were sentenced in front of courts during 2003 was 626.

17 Children Victims of Israeli Violation Detained Children Defense for Children International (DCI) reported that 750 children were arrested in 2002 and 500 in 2003 by the Israeli forces. Children often have no access to lawyers or family visits, they are detained for long periods and often without charges, and are commonly deprived of education, proper nutrition, health care, bathing and bathroom facilities, and recreation.

18 Children Victims of Israeli Violation Detained Children There is a widespread evidence of children being detained not only among adults, but also among adult criminal prisoners. Once released, children face psychosocial implications, difficulties finishing their education, and generally relating to people who do not share their experience.

19 Children Victims of Israeli Violation Children whose homes were demolished According to statistic by the Ministry of Housing and Public Work 3,459 Palestinian homes were demolished by the Israeli bulldozers. The victims of the housedemolishing policy are mainly children. More than 14,000 child were victim of this Israeli policy.

20 Children Victims of Israeli Violation Children whose homes were demolished According to UNRWA, from 1 May until 24 May, 277 buildings, housing 641 families, or 3,451 individuals were demolished in Rafah. Since the start of the Intifada, 1,476 buildings have been demolished in Rafah, affecting 14,666 people.

21 Actions taken Related PA Ministries, supported by different donors, initiated projects to support hardship cases on monthly basis, including providing financial and in kind assistance.

22 Actions taken Poverty Alleviation Programs PA initiated number of Poverty Alleviation Programs, including temporary employment program, public work program, waving of electricity and water fees, as well as school and university fees of hardship cases, providing free health insurance for every unemployed worker.

23 Current Poverty Alleviation Programs # Name of program Type Budget Financed By Remarks Targeting $US 1 Temporary employ. programs cash $3.4M/mnth Palestinian National Authority (PNA) 18M man day work Poor who lost jobs 2 Public works program cash $85M/yr Donors & NGOs 45M man days programs are being implemented continuously Poor people who lost their jobs 3 Targeted transfers by Min. of Social Affairs (MOSA) cash $10M PNA 40,000 family beneficiaries Hardship cases 4 Food Assistance kind $105M Islamic Development Bank, United Arab Emirates, WFP, ICRC Transient & new poor

24 Current Poverty Alleviation Programs # Name of program Type Budget $US Finance d By Remarks Targeting 5 Waving of electricity & water fees cash $250M PNA Hardship cases in Gaza 6 Waving of School & university fees cash $25M/yr PNA Hardship cases 7 Free health insurance for every unemployed worker cash $2M/mnth PNA Unemployed 8 Universal services (vaccine, therapeutic feeding kind $4.5M/yr Donors 0-5 years 9 Housing reconstruction cash $65M Jointly by donors & PNA Owners of partially destroyed houses

25 Current Poverty Alleviation Programs # Name of program Type Budget $US Financed By Remarks Targeting 10 Medical Supplies kind $50M Arab countries Injured people 11 UNRWA Welfare Program Donor Countries Refugees

26 Actions taken Emergency Services The World Bank is providing support under Emergency Service Support Program, which provides budgetary support to main PA ministries of Health, Education and Social Affairs, (and municipalities during phase one only).

27 Actions taken Emergency Services Emergency Committee including Ministry of Social Affairs, UNRWA and World Food Program was formed in order to coordinate in providing emergency help for the families whose houses were demolished by the Israeli occupation forces. Provided services are however limited.

28 Actions taken Detained Children Ministry of Detainees and Ex Detainees provides psychological support and vocational training for released children, however there is a lack of both financial and human resources in this sector. Child Laborer The ministries of Social Affairs, Labor and Education, and UNRWA have begun to seek out child laborer and assist them in reintegrating into normal childhood and education.

29 Obstacles The current instability of the political situation due to the Israeli aggressions, as well as the continuous Israeli incursions, violations and movement restrictions, are the main obstacle facing implementing developmental programs towards supporting children.

30 Obstacles The deterioration in the socio-economic conditions, and the rapid decline in the Palestinian economy. Lack of required resources; both human and financial.

31 Obstacles Absence of proper pension systems for elderly. Lack of programs targeting unemployed women. Absence of proper rehabilitation programs. Lack of psychological assistance, especially in trauma healing.