ActionAid Palestine to Contribute in Promoting Preventive Measures in Combating COVID-19 in Gaza Strip
Focusing on GBV Survivors
Gaza Strip- Occupied Palestinian Territory-ActionAid Palestine responded to the needs of 247 Palestinian families headed by women, primarily GBV survivors, in border areas of the Easter Rafah and Khan Younis. This preventive and precautionary response aims to prevent and mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in the most impoverished communities. It also helps strengthening the resilience of women-headed households and their families to counteract the impact of this virus, particularly due to the current state of complete lockdown in the besieged enclave.
Through its Rights and Resilience programme, and in partnership with Ma’an Development Center and Wefaq Society for Women and Child Care- ActionAid designed an emergency response plan to ensure the urgent needs of target groups are fulfilled. Consequently, food parcels and preventive hygiene kits were distributed, aiming to strengthen the resilience of women GBV survivors and their families and ensures their safety and dignity by taking preventive measures to COVID-19 outbreak, especially in light of the social and economic challenges resulting from the prolonged blockade on Gaza over the 13 years.
This intervention represents the first stage of a contingency response plan that AAP is currently designing for both West Bank and Gaza Strip, through which we renew our commitment to contribute to the national efforts exerted in combating this pandemic. During the past weeks, ActionAid developed adaptive programme strategy for all Development and Humanitarian programs, so as to be relevant and consistent to the current state of emergency. Which will eventually contribute to promoting the role of women and young people in preparedness and response actions, through a multipronged approach, that invests in their technical expertise in the field of emergency response from one hand, whilst capitalizing on their leadership and influence through existing or new decision making space, which in turn have a greater positive impact on strengthening the resilience of Palestinian society at large.
247 women GBV survivors were identified, through participatory selection criteria; these women were already receiving psychosocial and legal counselling services through WEFAQ family center that is established and supported by ActionAid in partnership through Wefaq Society for Women and Child Care.
On the short run, responding to the needs of women GBV survivors will alleviate social and economic impacts caused by the full lockdown, and food insecurity resulting from the outbreak of the pandemic. Women GBV survivors are experiencing an increase of protection threats i.e. tension, stresses and the incidence of domestic violence, the majority of its victims are usually women and children.
ActionAid Palestine does not only lead humanitarian interventions in Gaza, but it also continues its advocacy efforts at local and international levels to end poverty and injustice caused by prolonged Israeli blockade. For this reason, ActionAid joins the international organizations to demand the international community to fulfill its commitments towards the Palestinian people’s rights, and ultimately the Right to-Self-Determination. In addition to holding Israel accountable for the deterioration of the humanitarian conditions in besieged Gaza. As an occupying power, Israel commits continuous violations that are in contravention with to the International Humanitarian Law and Fourth Geneva Convention.
AAP Country Director, Ibrahim Ibraigheth said: “we cannot work alone in this catastrophic situation. Gaza needs political, regional and international interventions with the existence of collective will to address the root causes of the chronic suffering, and prevent the worst-case scenario being that Gaza’s health system entirely collapses. Israel must be reminded of its duty as an occupying power to deploy all means to combat the spread of contagious diseases and lift the blockade.”
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: