ActionAid Palestine to Continue Joining National Efforts in Responding to COVID-19
Strengthening Resilience of Marginalized Areas Facing Protection Threats
Bethlehem-Beit Skaria-With its quick preparedness, ActionAid Palestine (AAP) started today providing 55 families living in Beit Skaria with 55 medical protective equipment and hygiene kits and two additional kits for the emergency committee of this area which is the only committee in there.
It is worth mentioning that Beit Skaria or “Khirbet Zakari” is an isolated area affected by wall and settlement. It is in area “C” in south-west of Bethlehem southern West Bank in the heart of Gush Etzion illegal settlement. Beit Skaria consists of five neighborhoods that include (Beit Skaria,khelet Al-Balotah,Wadi Shakhiet ,Khelet Afanah and Al-Shafa’ai).
This response was taken after a case of coronavirus had been confirmed and existence of several families in home quarantine. For this reason, AAP provided all the families living in this isolated village with medical protective equipment and hygiene kits to enable them to protect themselves, combat this pandemic and strengthen their resilience on their lands threatened by settlers and occupation.
AAP was one of the first local and international organizations that responded to combating COVID-19 in this area whose residents have many sufferings from marginalization caused by illegal settlements on its lands, protection threats and settlers’ violence.
This response was taken within national efforts that AAP joined to tackle this crisis and combat this pandemic. The response was conducted by supporting the infected Palestinian families of coronavirus with the necessary hygiene products.
A youth activist, Omar Hatem Sa’ad Ibrahim who is the head of emergency committee in this area said: “AAP was one of the first international and local organizations that helped us in combating this pandemic. We express our thank to AAP for its efforts they exert in supporting us and strengthening our resilience under limited capacities and difficult conditions we pass through”.
Background Information
ActionAid
ActionAid is ActionAid is a global federation working for a world free from poverty and injustice. It is a leading international charity working in over 45 countries. We work with the poorest women and children in the world, changing their lives for good. Our local staff provide immediate, hands-on support to women and children living on the margins of survival. Together we demand action at local, national and international level. We don’t walk away until we’ve achieved lasting change.
ActionAid in Palestine (AAP) is a part of that federation which started its work in Palestine in 2007 to strengthen the resilience of Palestinian People as ActionAid believes that they should enjoy their rights to freedom, justice and self-determination. AAP implements a number of programs through its engagement with communities and women and youth groups seeking to empower them and enhance their influential civil and political participation to understand their rights and undertake collective activism to address the protracted rights violations resulting from the prolonged occupation of Palestine. AAP works simultaneously to enhance their leadership capacity and knowledge to practice their citizenship in holding authorities and other duty bearers to account.
For more information, please contact
Riham Jafari
Coordinator of Advocacy and Communication in Gaza Strip and West Bank
Mobile:
+972 (0) 595242890
Office:
+972 (0) (2) 22 13 137
Email:
