ReliefWeb

Highlights

• Five years ago UNRWA started to commemorate the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan – which had killed over 15,890 persons – with a “Kites of Hope” event in Gaza. This year, on 5 March, again more than 1,000 Palestine refugee children flew their kites in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, to express their solidarity with the children and people of Japan. Also present at the event was His Excellency Mr. Takeshi Okubo, Ambassador for Palestinian Affairs/Representative of Japan to the Palestinian Authority, and the Director of UNRWA Operations in Gaza, Mr. Bo Schack. In his speech, Mr. Schack mentioned that the children of Gaza well understand the feelings of loss and displacement, and what it means when one cannot return home to his or her beloved house - the same feelings the children of Japan felt when the earthquake and tsunami destroyed their houses. Japan has for many years provided support to UNRWA programmes for Palestine refugees in Gaza, even while the country itself was still recovering from the devastating effects of the natural disaster. This includes, for example, generous funding for a re-housing project in Khan Younis for over 1,200 Palestine refugee families whose homes were destroyed during conflict. UNRWA remains grateful to Japan for its ongoing support to the people of Gaza and for the close relationship and trust it extends to the organization. One day after the event, UNRWA also organized a live skype call between children in Gaza and Japan during which they broadcast footage of the kites event and talked about their daily lives and challenges.

• This year, International Women’s Day was celebrated on 8 March under the theme ‘Women in the Changing World of Work: Planet 50:50 by 2030’ (#BeBoldforChange). On this occasion, the UNRWA Gender Initiative, in cooperation with UN Women in Gaza, organized a seminar entitled ‘Equal opportunities for women in the private sector in the Gaza Strip’, targeting representatives from international and local humanitarian and civil society organizations and the Palestinian private sector. The seminar included sessions on topics such as women and the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector and international standards for gender equality in the labour sector, given by guest speakers from the Palestinian private sector. In addition, Ms. Mona Al Ghalayeeni, the successful Gaza businesswoman and owner of hotels and supermarkets, gave a lecture on her professional experience and background in Gaza. The seminar also included opening remarks by the UN Coordinator for Humanitarian Aid and Development Activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, Mr. Robert Piper, as well as by the Deputy Director of UNRWA Operations in Gaza, Ms. Melinda Young.

• UNRWA opened the Al Bahrain Public Library in the Rafah Preparatory Girls school B, in southern Gaza, on 4 March. With more than 8,300 books on various topics in English and Arabic, the three-story building provides reading areas for children and adults; it also includes a computer lab and a three-dimensional cinema hall. With the aim of providing opportunities for self-education and life-long learning, the library services will not only target students and school staff, but will also be open to the public. Through the construction of libraries, UNRWA hopes to encourage and revive a reading culture among UNRWA students and the general public, also in light of the rich cultural and educational history of Palestine. Palestine already has a high literacy rate: according to data from the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics from 2016, the illiteracy rate among persons aged 15 and above in Palestine was 3.3 per cent (3.5 per cent in the West Bank and 3 per cent in Gaza); yet the illiteracy rate varies considerably between sexes: 1.5 per cent for males compared to 5.1 per cent for females. The illiteracy rate among persons aged 65 and more attained 38.6 per cent, but only 0.7 per cent for young people aged between 15 and 29 years. Overall, illiteracy is the highest in rural areas (4.8 per cent), followed by urban areas (3 per cent) and refugee camps (also 3 per cent).

• A member of the Gaza Field Communications Office, along with representatives from other UN agencies and humanitarian organizations in Gaza, participated in the Lifeline Training of Trainers (ToT) held by BBC Media Action and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) from 27 February to 2 March in Gaza city. The ToT was a follow up from the Lifeline communications training held earlier in 2016, equipping participants to deliver the Lifeline course for media or humanitarian colleagues. Lifeline programming is special media programming for communities affected by humanitarian crises. It aims to provide people with timely, relevant and practical information to alleviate their suffering and assist with their recovery. Lifeline programming also aims to give affected people the opportunity to voice their concerns, express their needs, share their stories and hold humanitarian aid providers to account.

• A diplomatic delegation from Canada visited UNRWA in Gaza on 28 February. The delegation visited a Food Distribution Centre in Gaza city where they learned about the operational aspects of distributing food to almost one million beneficiaries, four times per year, on rising food insecurity and needs in Gaza and on the Agency’s Poverty Assessment System. Thereafter the Canadian representatives went to a shelter reconstruction project in eastern Gaza city where they met with a refugee family who benefited from the Agency’s self-help shelter repair and reconstruction programme. They also received a general briefing on the humanitarian situation and operational context by the Director and Deputy Director of UNRWA Operations in Gaza, Mr. Bo Schack and Mr David De Bold. Lastly the delegation discussed neutrality-related issues with UNRWA staff. The Agency provides a range of activities to promote neutrality in relation to staff, installations, suppliers and beneficiaries. More information can be found here.

• Through its Microfinance Department (MD), UNRWA helps address the needs of low-income Palestine refugees. In February 2017, the MD disbursed 437 loans worth US$ 640,420 – a 1.8 per cent decrease from the previous month; 340 loans were closed. Over 44 per cent of the clients were female and over 11 per cent were 24 years old or less. The MD also provides a variety of training opportunities through its Small and Medium Enterprise Business Training Programme for professionals as well as students and fresh graduates; trainings vary from project management, fundraising and proposal writing, to job hunting, and gender awareness. In February, the programme conducted 9 courses attended by 172 participants.