Highlights
The humanitarian needs of children in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (oPt) remained high during the reporting period.
Power cuts and shortages of fuel in Gaza have affected the provision of essential health care services. Discontinued supply of electricity in vaccines cold chain jeopardize the effectiveness of the vaccine and threaten immunization for around 287,063 children under age of five. In response, UNICEF was able to procure 11 solar refrigerators for UNRWA primary health care clinics where 70% of vaccines for Gaza are stored for the immunization programme. Access to clean water and sanitation are even more challenging, posing acute risks to children.
During the reporting period, the arrest and/or detention of 200 children in East Jerusalem was documented, compared to 182 cases in the second quarter of 2017. UNICEF supported the provision of legal assistance to 171 of these children. In addition, 138 of these children (90 girls and 48 boys) participated in psychosocial support sessions to help overcome stress of being arrested.
The main challenge in 2017 has been the lack of funding, especially in the areas of Child Protection with a funding gap of 72%, Education with a funding gap of 54% and WASH with a funding gap of 56%. The funding gap for cluster coordination is 64%. Such funding constraints hamper UNICEF’s ability to meet the needs of up to 221,396 targeted children with essential emergency services.
Advocacy efforts, by the CO, are ongoing.
800,000
# of children affected out of (UN OCHA Humanitarian HRP 2017)
2,000,000
# of people affected (UN OCHA Humanitarian HRP 2017)
221,396
# of children targeted out of
327,483
# of people targeted (UNICEF Humanitarian Action for Children 2017)
UNICEF Appeal 2017
US$ 24.5 million
Situation Overview & Humanitarian Needs
The humanitarian situation in Gaza which was already characterised by deprivations and vulnerabilities of the population of 1.8 million, driven by the continued closure and three major hostilities in the past six years, has further deteriorated during the reporting period. The severe electricity shortage in Gaza since April 2017 has severely affected the population as households are receiving water between 0-4 maximum hours per day. Many surgeries are postponed and intensive care units are functioning with minimal power, which is compounded by the protracted shortage of essential drugs and medical equipment. In East Jerusalem, Palestinians are subject to a coercive environment, including home demolitions, forced evictions and detentions. Children in the West Bank see their access to services and opportunities limited by territorial fragmentation, the separation wall, restrictions of movement and goods, access to natural resources, and eroding livelihoods. Palestinian populations in Area C are particularly affected.
The total number of People in Need (PiN) for WASH in 2017 is 1.45 million, of which 90% are from Gaza and the remaining 10% are from the West Bank and East Jerusalem. 85% of the total PiN are suffering from poor water quality. Approximately 265,0001 children are in need of structured psychosocial support and child protection interventions. Child arrests and detention frequently occur in East Jerusalem. Harassment by Israeli Security Forces at check-points, violence from settlers and the demolition of houses and other infrastructure are an ongoing feature of daily life affecting children and families across the West Bank. Due to these factors, 504,000 school children require humanitarian assistance to access quality education in a safe, child friendly environment. Many children travel long distances to reach school exposing them to violence hence necessitating the need for protective presence.