Palestinian Youth to Show Solidarity with Residents of Humsa Village after Demolishing their Homes
Northern Jordan Valleys-Humsa Community-ActionAid Palestine (AAP) supported initiatives of Palestinian youth to respond and show solidarity with the Palestinian village of Humsa Al Bqai’a after forces of Israeli occupation demolished their houses at the beginning of this month. This response includes providing 13 families whose tents were demolished with fire stones, Fodder and crop seeds as they are essential to strengthen their resilience and fulfill their basic needs under hard economic and political conditions and ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in Occupied Palestinian Territory (oPt).
(Photo of young people while they were delivering fodder and crop seeds to residents of Palestinian Village of Humsa that was demolished by Israeli occupation forces -Jordan Valleys-West Bank-Copy rights for ActionAid Palestine 2020)
This emergency response to Palestinian village of Humsa Al Bqai’a was initiated as part of the activities of AAP’s programme of “the Civil and Democratic Participation of Palestinian Youth” particularly focusing on youth leadership of preparedness and response actions in emergency cases despite of its different causes ( whether they are caused by practices of Israeli occupation or consequences of the spread of COVID-19).The youth group developed a response plan to this area after they identified their needs of its community and current threats. Youth have unique status enabling them to communicate with the community and lead initiatives that greatly promote the resilience of Palestinian people.
(photo of young people while they were preparing fire stoves the Palestinian Village of Humsa in the Jordan Valleys that was exposed to home demolition by Israeli occupation forces on 3rd of November 2020-West Bank-Palestine -Copy Right for ActionAid Palestine 2020)
On 3rd of November, 2020,the Israeli occupation has displaced 73 Palestinians, including 41 children and demolished 76 structures and destroyed properties – including homes, animal shelters, latrines and solar panels. Those destroyed structures were essential to, livelihoods, wellbeing and dignity of village’s residents, whose rights have been violated. Three quarters of the village’ s population lost their shelters, making this the largest forced displacement incident in over four years. Winter and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic will exacerbate their vulnerability as it will be difficult to fulfill their health and additional needs.
(photo of children in Humsa Village in the Jordan Valleys that was exposed to demolition by Israeli occupation forces on 3rd of November 2020 -West Bank-Palestine-Copy Rights for ActionAid Palestine 2020)
So far in 2020, 740 structures have been demolished across the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, more than in any full year since 2016; rendering 896 Palestinians homeless. The lack of Israeli-issued building permits is typically cited as a reason, even though, due to the restrictive and discriminatory planning regime, Palestinians can almost never obtain such permits. Demolitions are a key means of creating an environment designed to coerce Palestinians to leave their homes and displace the indigenous people from their lands.
(photo of a child in Humsa village in the Jordan Valleys after it was demolished by forces of Israeli Occupation on 3rd of November 2020-West Bank-Palestine-Copy Rights for ActionAid Palestine2020)
Background Information
ActionAid
ActionAid is a global federation working for social justice and gender equality and eradicate poverty. ActionAid works worldwide to empower people living in poverty and exclusion with focus on women’s rights .ActionAid works directly and closely with communities, civil society organizations, women movements and social groups and movements and other allies to tackle root causes of poverty and oppression. ActionAid deliver grassroots programmes to utilize efforts of global struggle movements working for a just, fair and sustainable world. Based on human rights-based approach and women rights’ principles, ActionAid seeks to fairly re-distribute powers through solidarity, empowerment, awareness campaigns and creating alternatives to ensure that everybody enjoys the right to a life of dignity, and freedom from oppression.
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: