The blockade on Gaza, which entered its tenth year in June 2016, in addition to recurrent armed violence and conflict, remains the principle cause of the socio-economic and psychosocial crisis in Gaza. But what does it mean to live under a blockade? During June 2016, UNRWA shares the stories of Jihad, Amjad, Hevam and Salwa and their everyday resilience as they struggle to make ends meet: Jihad needs to search through the rubble from the devastating 2014 conflict to find steel and stones to sell in the local market; fisherman Amjad often returns from the Gaza sea to his family with empty hands due to the heavy access restrictions that led to the disruption of livelihoods and a dramatic decrease in the fish catch; Hevam and her sick son Ali are desperately waiting for a permit from Israel to leave Gaza and get medical treatment; and for Salwa and her family, clean running water is a far off dream. Their stories are real stories; their lives are real lives – and these are just four out of hundreds of thousands of people living in similar conditions in the Gaza Strip, under restrictions that have reduced access to livelihoods, basic services and housing, disrupted family life, and undermined the people’s hopes for a secure and prosperous future. For more information, follow the hashtag #liftgazablockade and visit the UNRWA page: Real stories, real lives – what the Gaza blockade means.
The UNRWA Relief and Social Services Programme promotes the development and self-reliance of vulnerable Palestine refugees – including persons with disabilities, women, children and the elderly – through numerous interventions in Gaza. In May 2016, RSSP continued with the second round of food distribution this year and provided food assistance to more than 470,000 refugees (approximately half of the over 930,000 served by UNRWA throughout the distribution cycle April-June 2016). In addition, RSSP distributed non-food items such as mattresses, gas stoves, or blankets, to 805 persons. Through its Social Intervention Units (SIC) RSSP detected and recorded 45 new social intervention cases and referred 150 other cases to service providers inside and outside of UNRWA to receive assistance. The SCU distributed 141 gas cylinders and 282 gallons of shampoo to poor families, and provided one family with a livelihood opportunity through a “sheep-raising” project. Further, the RSSP Disability Programme, in cooperation with local non-government organizations, provided 84 persons with disabilities with assistive devices. Through its hundreds of front line personnel, RSSP also plays a crucial role in UNRWA’s accountability to and participation of beneficiaries via collecting and responding to feedback and suggestions on its services, from Palestine refugees in Gaza.
One of many UNRWA interventions to help stimulate the crippled Gaza economy and encourage local entrepreneurs is the implementation of the Agency’s microfinance activities. In May 2016, the UNRWA Microfinance Department (MD) in Gaza disbursed 428 loans worth US$ 606,300 to small business owners to help them maintain or grow a business and make a living. Since 1991, the MD has issued 114,272 loans worth almost US$ 148 million; approximately 43 per cent of the benefiting business owners are female and 13 per cent are 24 years old or younger. MD also provides fresh graduates, university students and professionals with different technical training, some of which focus on "Job Hunting", "Project Management" and "Gender Awareness". In May, the MD conducted five training courses in Gaza, and since 1995 it has facilitated over 1,100 training courses, reaching over 25,000 participants.