Palestinian Civil Society Consultations on Relief and Recovery in Gaza Strip

Palestinian Civil Society Consultations on Relief and Recovery in Gaza Strip

15 January, Ramallah.

The Palestine Economic Policy Research Institute (MAS) in cooperation with PalThink (Gaza) today convened a second “Civil Society Consultation on Relief and Recovery”, aimed at briefing Palestinian civil society and pooling reliable information on ongoing relief efforts by various stakeholders. This session hosted senior officials of the World Food Program (WFP), UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), while a preceding session (8 January) was briefed by representatives of the Palestinian Ministries of Social Development and of Relief Affairs.

The meeting aimed to address the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, discuss operational challenges, and strategize on recovery and reconstruction efforts. Participants provided updates on their respective areas of intervention and shared insights on pressing challenges and future plans. The meeting highlighted the importance of immediate relief efforts and the need for long-term strategies to address the complex challenges in Gaza. Participants stressed the critical role of coordination, transparency, and international cooperation in ensuring effective humanitarian response and sustainable recovery. The three international organizations briefed on their efforts to mitigate the humanitarian crisis focus on the following thematic areas:

• Food Security:

o WFP emphasized its large-scale operations, including distributing in-kind food assistance and cash-based transfers to the most vulnerable populations.

o WFP highlighted the extreme inflation in Gaza markets, with prices of some staples rising over 1,000%. Despite these challenges, WFP has worked with local bakeries and NGOs to stabilize food availability.

• Water and Sanitation:

o UNICEF outlined efforts to restore water supply through the repair of desalination plants and water wells.

o UNICEF is combating sanitation challenges, including the destruction of sewerage systems, which has led to disease outbreaks such as polio.

• Healthcare:

o Both UNICEF and UNRWA emphasized healthcare as a critical area. UNRWA, detailed primary healthcare delivery in its shelters and health centers.

o Challenges in maintaining medical supplies and addressing the widespread destruction of healthcare facilities were highlighted.

• Education:

o Temporary learning spaces were established by UNICEF and UNRWA to provide educational and psychosocial support for children.

o These spaces cater to displaced children, addressing the loss of consistent schooling over the last four years.

• Protection:

o UNICEF reported on programs for unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups, focusing on psychosocial support to address trauma.

o The role of local NGOs in delivering these programs was emphasized.

In addition, agencies shared key insights on their focus areas of work:

WFP is primarily focusing on food security, market monitoring, and cash transfer programs. Market disruptions have led to inflation, significantly reducing food affordability, while WFP’s collaboration with bakeries and local partners ensured limited food supplies were accessible to the population. WFP highlighted the need for better supply chain logistics to meet growing food needs.

UNICEF focus areas have been water, sanitation, education, and child protection and shared updates on the rehabilitation of water and sanitation systems, including the repair of key desalination plants. UNICEF stressed the long-term consequences of destroyed sewerage systems, including disease outbreaks. Psychosocial support programs and educational services to stabilize the mental health and learning environment for children are among its prime concerns.

In its humanitarian response, UNRWA keeps refugee support, shelter management, and primary healthcare at the centre of its operations. UNRWA has had a critical role in sheltering displaced populations, with over 500,000 individuals in its facilities, notwithstanding the destruction of many schools and health centers, which has severely impacted service delivery. Concerns are growing about Israeli legislation potentially hindering UNRWA operations in East Jerusalem, Gaza, and the West Bank. But UNRWA remains committed to its mandate and will do all it can to maintain operations in all areas.

Participants also identified the following operational challenges:

• Access Restrictions: Israeli-imposed logistical restrictions have hindered the timely, secure and smooth delivery of aid and supplies.
• Security Risks: Organized theft and looting have created additional barriers to effective aid distribution.
• Resource Limitations: Inflation and liquidity issues have constrained cash-based interventions.
• Early Recovery Planning: Participants called for a coordinated approach to stabilize populations during the transition from relief to recovery. Emphasis was placed on integrating humanitarian efforts with development initiatives to ensure sustainability.
• Operational Expansion: Readiness to scale up aid efforts was discussed, contingent on resource mobilization and improved access. Advocacy for enhanced collaboration among international, local, and private actors to overcome challenges was underscored.

The next consultative meeting will be held on 21 January to discuss international NGOs’ relief and humanitarian efforts, while a 29 January session will review various “day-after visions” advanced by different parties.