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oPt

2023 oPt Emergency Appeal Progress Report for the reporting period 1 January – 30 June 2023

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UNRWA operates in an environment characterised by conflict, political tension and chronic humanitarian need. Within this context, the Agency maintains its commitment to the humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence to enable it to continue protecting and assisting Palestine refugees.

With funding received through this EA during the first half of 2023, UNRWA provided vital in-kind emergency food assistance, without interruption, to 1,136,007 refugees in Gaza. Under its Cash-for-Work (CfW) intervention, the Agency continued to support Palestine refugees struggling to cope with the protracted economic crisis and high unemployment caused by the blockade. Almost 2,000 full time equivalent jobs were created during the first half of 2023. Logistical support for food distributions to 38,348 vulnerable individuals in Bedouin and herder communities in Area C in the West Bank was carried out, on behalf of UNRWA, by the World Food Programme's (WFP) cooperating partner Global Communities in the second quarter of 2023.

The UNRWA Health Programme in Gaza, funded under the programme budget but supplemented with EA funding, continued to provide primary health care to Palestine refugees through its 22 health centres. Medical assessments were carried out at UNRWA schools, as a result of which 6,296 students received assistive devices, mainly glasses and hearing aids.

To mitigate the effect of multiple stressors that affect students’ learning, UNRWA provided recreational after-school activities to 17,600 students in 55 locations throughout the Gaza Strip. The May 2023 hostilities in Gaza reinforced the importance of UNRWA’s continued provision of mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) services for refugees of all ages who are experiencing psychological trauma due to recurring conflict-related violence. MHPSS services funded under this EA focused on individual counselling, including support for survivors of gender-based violence (GBV), mainly females.

Despite the industrial action that impacted UNRWA emergency operations in the West Bank, certain critical activities were able to proceed, including food distributions. While education services were disrupted, the UNRWA Education Programme is already engaged in measures to make up for lost learning. In addition, in response to the increase in conflict-related violence the UNRWA West Bank Field Office (WBFO) Protection and Neutrality team, under this EA, intensified its protection advocacy work, including with Israeli duty bearers, to raise concerns about ongoing protection incidents and to advocate for better compliance in upholding the rights of Palestine refugees, according to international humanitarian law (IHL) and human rights law (IHRL).