Contribution to UNICEF Emergency Response Plan in the occupied Palestinian territory (Humanitarian Action for Children - HAC November 2023)

The ongoing hostilities in the Gaza Strip have grave humanitarian consequences in the oPt, mainly in Gaza Strip. Thousands of children and women lost their lives, many more were injured. An estimated 160 children are being born every day under precarious circumstances. Over 1.8 million (almost 80%) of the Gazan population have been internally displaced, and are facing an increasingly dire humanitarian situation with complete electricity blackout, and fuel reserves depleted. Water production capacity has been reduced to 5% of the normal daily production, limiting access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services. Insufficient access to water compels the population to use unsafe water, potentially leading to additional health issues.

UNICEF is delivering immediate life-saving humanitarian assistance in the Gaza Strip to support conflict-affected and displaced people mainly with gender-responsive WASH, health, child protection and education services as well as the provision of multi-purpose cash assistance. Services are being supported through supply delivery, partners and remote service provision. In the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, UNICEF is scaling up humanitarian preparedness and response through existing and expanded partnerships and supplies pre-positioned in the West Bank. Further resources are being mobilized to be ready to respond to increasing humanitarian needs.

• All affected Palestinian civilians
• Health systems operating in the oPt
• WHO partners including, PRCS, Egyptian Red Cross

1. WASH response (emergency fuel for water desalination plants, water and sanitation pumping stations in Gaza Strip, consumable materials for critical WASH facilities; rapid repairs for affected WASH infrastructure; hygiene kits for the affected families)
2. Health response (procurement/delivery of essential medical supplies, fuel for hospitals/health centres; services for new-borns)
3. Nutrition response (Infant/ child feeding, counselling, nutrition for women breast feeding, artificial feeding, nutrition care for wasted children, micronutrient supplement for women and children)
4. Child Protection response (MHPSS, awareness on mine risks)
5. Education response (remedial education, after/in school recreational activities, rehabilitation of damaged schools/used as shelters)
6. Social Protection/Cash-Plus (cash transfers; referrals to health and MHPSS services)
7. Accountability to Affected Populations/ Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEAsafe hotline) 
8. Coordination of the WASH Cluster, the Education Cluster and other sub-clusters

Principaux résultats attendus:  

• Water, sanitation and hygiene: Through Gaza Operation Cell under WASH Cluster, UNICEF is providing, as possible, fuel to wastewater treatment plants and water productions/distributions to serve over 2 mio people with drinking water, in addition to serving about 1.5 mio people with hygiene kits and sanitation and hygiene services in shelters and about 1’100’000 people with critical WASH supplies
• Health and nutrition: 780’000 women, children and adolescents are supported through UNICEF delivered medical supplies while 5’842 children 6-59 months with severe wasting admitted for treatment
• Child protection, GBV and PSEA: 853’000 children, adolescents and caregivers affected by conflict related violence receive emergency and child protection service including MHPSS while 504’900 children will be provided with landmine or other explosive weapons prevention and/or survivor assistance interventions. About 300’000 people will be provided safe and accessible channels to report sexual exploitation and abuse by personnel who provide assistance to affected populations
• Education: 55’000 affected school aged children provided with recreational activities to support their wellbeing and 315’500 children receiving individual learning materials
• Social protection: About 35’000 households will be reached with UNICEF-funded humanitarian cash transfers
• Cross Sectors/Accountability to Affected Populations/PSEA: to provide access to reporting and survivor centered services; support volunteer-based organization towards community outreach; and integrate risk mitigation measures adapted to each sector, monitoring, evaluation, communication and visibility
• Coordination: WASH Cluster, Education Cluster and other subclusters for emergency response