Updated humanitarian and early recovery appeal - hostilities in gaza and mounting tensions in the west bank may-december 2021 - ReliefWeb

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Updated humanitarian and early recovery appeal - hostilities in gaza and mounting tensions in the west bank may-december 2021 - ReliefWeb
united nations relief and works agency for palestine refugees in the near east   1

           updated humanitarian
    and early recovery appeal -
hostilities in gaza and mounting
       tensions in the west bank

                            may-december 2021
Updated humanitarian and early recovery appeal - hostilities in gaza and mounting tensions in the west bank may-december 2021 - ReliefWeb
2 updated humanitarian and early recovery appeal                                                                                               united nations relief and works agency for palestine refugees in the near east   3

                                                                                                                                                           updated humanitarian
                                                                                                                                                    and early recovery appeal -
                                                                                                                                                hostilities in gaza and mounting
                                                                                                                                                       tensions in the west bank
© 2021 United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East

About UNRWA
UNRWA is a United Nations agency established by the General Assembly in 1949 and is mandated to provide assistance and
protection to a population of some 5.7 million registered Palestine refugees. Its mission is to help Palestine refugees in Jordan,
Lebanon, Syria, West Bank and the Gaza Strip to achieve their full potential in human development, pending a just solution to
                                                                                                                                                                            may-december 2021
their plight. UNRWA services encompass education, health care, relief and social services, camp infrastructure and improvement,
microfinance and emergency assistance. UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions.

Cover Photo: UNRWA sanitation workers clear the streets and collecting the rubble from the recent escalation in violence on the beseiged Gaza
Strip. © 2021 UNRWA Photo Mohammed Hinnawi
Updated humanitarian and early recovery appeal - hostilities in gaza and mounting tensions in the west bank may-december 2021 - ReliefWeb
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table of contents                                                                                                                       introduction
1. introduction������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 5   Following a dramatic intensification in violence           In accordance with international law, UNRWA
                                                                                                                                        in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) in May         renews its commitment to deliver humanitarian
2. situational overview ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 6        2021, including an escalation in hostilities leading       assistance to Palestine refugees in accordance with
                                                                                                                                        to airstrikes on Gaza between 10 and 21 May, and           its mandate and in full respect of the humanitarian
3. humanitarian and early recovery needs���������������������������������������������������������������������� 9                       clashes in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem,        principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and
                                                                                                                                        on 15 May UNRWA issued a US$ 38 million Flash              independence as outlined in the General Assembly
4. funding requirements������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 12            Appeal to respond to the immediate humanitarian            Resolution 46/182. UNRWA remains committed to
                                                                                                                                        needs of affected populations.                             providing assistance to people in need solely on
5. intervention summary������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 13                                                                        the basis of need and vulnerability.
                                                                                                                                        The impact of the conflict on Palestine refugees
6. footnotes��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 18
                                                                                                                                        has been devastating. UNRWA is issuing a revised           UNRWA remains deeply concerned about actions
                                                                                                                                        appeal to address the humanitarian needs of                by the parties to the conflict during these recent
                                                                                                                                        Palestine refugees who remain displaced in                 hostilities that caused damage to its installations
                                                                                                                                        Gaza, and those in the West Bank including East            and violated its inviolability and neutrality. The
                                                                                                                                        Jerusalem affected by the tensions and violence.           Agency will continue to advocate for greater
                                                                                                                                        This updated appeal incorporates the immediate             respect for international law, international
                                                                                                                                        emergency response actions implemented by                  humanitarian law (IHL) and international human
                                                                                                                                        UNRWA in Gaza and the West Bank between 10                 rights law (IHRL) with relevant stakeholders.
                                                                                                                                        and 21 May as described in the initial Flash Appeal,
                                                                                                                                        as well as the early recovery needs of Palestine           We underscore for all our partners that the activities
                                                                                                                                        refugees in Gaza and the West Bank, including East         presented in this appeal can only be implemented
                                                                                                                                        Jerusalem, until 31 December 2021. UNRWA will              if the Agency’s Programme Budget and oPt
                                                                                                                                        continue to monitor the situation and update its           Emergency Appeal for 2021 receive contributions
                                                                                                                                        assessment of needs accordingly.                           in the amount required to sustain staffing and
                                                                                                                                                                                                   infrastructure essential to the delivery of health,
                                                                                                                                        The response under this updated Appeal is directly         education, mental health, relief, environmental
                                                                                                                                        related to the Agency’s strategic objective of             health, and protection services as well as the
                                                                                                                                        mitigating the effects of humanitarian emergencies         coordination and management components of
                                                                                                                                        on Palestine refugees and providing services in a          the response. In addition, the implementation of
                                                                                                                                        dignified and safe manner, in accordance with the          activities related to reconstruction in Gaza requires
                                                                                                                                        rights of protected populations under International        the smooth flow of goods and materials through
                                                                                                                                        Humanitarian Law (IHL). UNRWA continues to                 the only designated entry point, Kerem Shalom
                                                                                                                                        coordinate closely with humanitarian clusters in           Crossing.
                                                                                                                                        the oPt. This appeal includes interventions on
                                                                                                                                        shelter repair and reconstruction activities and
                                                                                                                                        rehabilitation of UNRWA installations. These are
                                                                                                                                        not fully included in the oPt inter-agency appeal
                                                                                                                                        lead by UNOCHA, which has a shorter time frame
                                                                                                                                        than this humanitarian and early recovery appeal.1
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                                                                                                                                                      An apartment building flattened by an Israeli airstrike in the besieged Gaza Strip.
                                                                                                                                                      © 2021 UNRWA photo by Mohammed Hinnawi

situational overview                                                                                         Palestine refugees remained displaced. This
                                                                                                             includes 1,400 families (7,150 persons) sheltering
                                                                                                             with relatives and friends, and approximately 55
                                                                                                                                                                        and power deficits, resulting in a decrease in the
                                                                                                                                                                        availability of clean water and sewage treatment
                                                                                                                                                                        capacity, and daily power cuts of 18-20 hours.
Gaza                                                                                                         families (350 persons) who remain displaced in
                                                                                                             two UNRWA schools that are now functioning as              West Bank
From 10 until 21 May, Gaza experienced the most       The ongoing crisis has occurred at a time when the     temporary collective shelters. Many are unable
intense airstrikes and violence since the 2014        population is struggling to cope with the effects of   to return to their homes and will need support             Since April 2021, a combination of factors have
conflict, with devastating impacts on the civilian    the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which is adding         over the period covered by this appeal. UNRWA              contributed to increased tensions and an escalation
population. As of 27 May, according to OCHA and       to existing health, socio-economic and mental          is committed to ensuring that the two schools              in hostilities in the oPt and Israel. This has included
the Office of the High Commissioner for Human         health strains. An alarming number of Gaza’s           serving as DESs are available for the coming               the pending evictions of Palestine refugee families
Rights (OHCHR), 256 Palestinians, including 66        citizens, particularly children, display physical      scholastic year and will support displaced families        in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood of East
children and 40 women were killed, of whom 128        and psychological signs of severe distress and         to find alternative accommodation.                         Jerusalem, limitations placed on gatherings of
are believed to be civilians.2 Data on injuries and   are at risk of developing mental health disorders.                                                                Palestinians in and around Jerusalem’s Old City
permanent impairments is sparse. A ceasefire is       Humanitarian responders, including UNRWA staff,        Air strikes have also caused substantial damage            during Ramadan, restricted access for Palestinian
now in place but remains extremely fragile.           have not been spared the mental stress resulting       to physical infrastructure, including homes.               worshippers to Al Aqsa and raids on the compound
                                                      from the pandemic and the latest hostilities.          Overall, an estimated 20,000 housing units                 by Israeli Security Forces (ISF), the excessive use of
The humanitarian consequences of this latest                                                                 sustained some degree of damage across Gaza.               force against Palestinian demonstrators, including
round of hostilities in Gaza have been devastating,   At the height of the escalation, 113,000 displaced     UNRWA estimates that 70 per cent of these                  tear gas, skunk water and live ammunition, and
adding another layer of psychological distress        people sought shelter and protection, including        homes belong to Palestine refugees. In addition,           violent arrests. Violence in East Jerusalem spilled
onto an already traumatized population, and           some 71,000 at 59 UNRWA schools (of which              141 education facilities, nine hospitals and 19            over into Gaza, leading to eleven days of hostilities
exacerbating the impact of the land, air and sea      around 50 per cent were equipped as Designated         primary healthcare centres also sustained some             between armed groups in Gaza and Israeli forces,
blockade, which enters its fifteenth year in June     Emergency Shelters (DESs). These numbers have          level of damage. This includes 28 UNRWA schools            as well as inter-communal violence in urban areas
2021, internal Palestinian political divisions and    progressively decreased following the ceasefire.       and six Agency health centres. These damages               throughout Israel and widespread demonstrations
prolonged exposure to violence.                       As of 23 May, UNRWA estimated that 7,500               have exacerbated Gaza’s chronic infrastructure             and clashes across the West Bank including East
                                                                                                                                                                        Jerusalem.
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During May, UNRWA recorded 1,106 friction                 The risks to life and serious injury have significant    humanitarian and early
                                                                                                                   recovery needs
incidents between Palestinians and Israeli Security       humanitarian consequences. In addition to the
Forces and/or Israeli settlers, which led to violence.    immediate impact on physical health and the right
In at least 29 per cent of these incidents, live fire     to life, there also negative consequences on the
was used. According to UNRWA data, out of 160             psychological well-being of affected individuals,
locations in which incidents - including large            their families and communities, as well as socio-        Gaza                                                        These families face the prospect of prolonged
demonstrations - occurred, live ammunition was            economic impacts as those directly impacted are                                                                      displacement. In addition to support for the
used on at least one occasion in 111 locations (69        active in the labour market.                             Gazans face the burden of having to rebuild their           reconstruction of their homes, these families will
per cent), resulting in live ammunition injuries in                                                                lives and homes in an already fragile and heavily           also need financial support (transitional shelter
43 per cent of these locations. The highest number        Almost 5,000 productive trees were also destroyed        constrained environment, affected by years of               cash assistance) to temporarily subsidize their
of live fire incidents occurring in demonstrations        during the tensions and violence, greatly impacting      protracted humanitarian crisis.                             rental payments while they remain displaced. A
was recorded in the Nablus governorate.3                  the livelihoods of already vulnerable populations                                                                    further 14,000 refugee shelters are estimated to be
                                                          in rural areas and having a devastating effect on        As of 23 May, an estimated 7,500 Palestine refugees         in need of major or minor repair works.⁶
UNRWA recorded that the ISF used more live                the local economy.                                       remain displaced, of whom around 1,400 families
ammunition during the first 16 days of May 2021                                                                    (7,150 individuals) are sheltering with relatives           With up to 71,000 people seeking shelter at
than in the first four months of the year. The dramatic   The risk of further violence remains high, due to        and friends, and approximately 55 families (350             UNRWA installations at the height of the crisis,
increase in the ISF’s use of live ammunition resulted     a growing settler population and the expansion           individuals) remain in two UNRWA schools in                 preliminary damage assessments demonstrate
in at least 437 injuries to Palestinians. There was       of settler homes and infrastructure on Palestinian       Jabalia and Beach Camp. Exit strategies and                 a need for upgrading of water and sanitation
also a dramatic increase in Palestinian injuries from     public and private lands, coupled with a lack of         alternative coping mechanisms will be developed             facilities in at least 59 UNRWA school locations.
other non-lethal weapons, including plastic-coated        accountability for settler violence and attacks on       for the families in these two collective shelters to        This figure includes schools previously equipped
metal bullets (PCMBs) and tear gas inhalation.            Palestinians and Palestinian property. Incidences        ensure that the schools are available for the 2021-         to serve as Designated Emergency Shelters (DES)
                                                          of settler violence are also strongly correlated with    22 scholastic year.                                         in times of emergency as well as non-DES schools
During the same period, UNRWA verified that 26            movement and access restrictions imposed by the                                                                      that hosted IDPs. There is also a need to repair 113
Palestine refugees were injured, with 17 injuries         Israeli Authorities, directly hampering the access       According to the Agency’s preliminary assessments,          UNRWA installations (including Gaza Field Office
resulting from live ammunition. The actual                of these communities to vital services – including       2,300 shelters⁵ belonging to around 1,400 refugee           and UNRWA HQ Gaza) impacted by the hostilities
number of injuries is likely to be higher, while          emergency healthcare, education and other basic          families have been completely destroyed or                  and to rehabilitate and refurbish DES and non-DES
some of these injuries may result in permanent            services.                                                damaged to the extent that they are uninhabitable           schools that were used to host displaced families,
impairments generating longer-term health                                                                          and in need of complete reconstruction.                     including works to water and sanitation (WASH),
care needs and possible negative consequences             This is increasing the potential for a further
on the ability to work and access to livelihood.          deterioration of the overall security situation in the
                                                          West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
                                                                                                                                                                A Gazan child recovers in the hospital after suffering injuries following an airstrike.
All 24 Palestinian fatalities recorded between
                                                                                                                                                                © 2021 UNRWA Photo By Mohamed Hinnawi
1 and 16 May in the West Bank, including East
Jerusalem, were caused by live ammunition. This
includes at least six Palestine refugees. UNRWA’s
preliminary data shows that the majority of
fatalities (58 per cent or 14 fatalities) occurred
during clashes or demonstrations, with the
remainder during reported attacks. Twenty-three
of the 24 fatalities have been attributed to the
ISF, while the other fatality was attributed to the
shooting of a Palestinian by an Israeli settler.⁴

UNRWA remains extremely concerned about the
vulnerability of Palestine refugees and civilians to
violence by armed Israeli settlers in the West Bank,
including East Jerusalem. In the first five months
of 2021, UNRWA recorded 779 incidents of Israeli
settler violence, with high rates of Palestinian
injuries (155 injuries per month, up to 10 injuries
per day during the escalation of tensions in May).
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                                         A woman sits inside her damaged home in Beit Hanoun, Gaza. © 2021 UNRWA
                                         Photo By Mohamed Hinnawi
                                                                                                                   IT and security infrastructure and (solar) electricity      already existing access restrictions, which directly
                                                                                                                   supply.                                                     impact the economic wellbeing and livelihoods
                                                                                                                                                                               of vulnerable populations, and their ability to
                                                                                                                   Repairs of water and sanitation networks in                 access essential services. In the area to the south
                                                                                                                   Palestine refugee camps that were damaged                   of Nablus, access and movements were especially
                                                                                                                   during the hostilities is also needed. Due to the           restricted, with the main (Huwwara) checkpoint
                                                                                                                   intensity of the hostilities, the risk of injury or         closed entirely for several days amid heavy ISF
                                                                                                                   death due to Explosive Remnants of War (ERW)                presence and checks slowing traffic. According to
                                                                                                                   has increased. There is a critical need for risk            Palestinian census data, over 30,000 refugees live
                                                                                                                   assessments and mitigation measures by UNRWA                within a 2km radius of this checkpoint, which lies
                                                                                                                   personnel as well as awareness-raising and risk             on the main thoroughfare between Nablus and
                                                                                                                   mitigation for the general public.                          Jerusalem. Other checkpoints in the West Bank,
                                                                                                                                                                               which are critical for Palestinian movements, such
                                                                                                                   Having witnessed death and injury, damage or                as Beit El DCO Checkpoint, north of Ramallah, have
                                                                                                                   loss of property, Gazans – especially children - face       also been affected, with negative repercussions on
                                                                                                                   trauma and require psychosocial support, with               access and movements.
                                                                                                                   coping mechanisms already eroded by years of
                                                                                                                   blockade and previous experiences of violence.              ISF operations have also increased dramatically.
                                                                                                                   Children are in desperate need of recreational and          In May 2021 only, UNRWA recorded 1,238 ISF
                                                                                                                   stress alleviation activities in a safe environment,        operations, compared to an average of 517 per
                                                                                                                   psychosocial assistance and referrals to more               month for the previous four months of 2021. Many
                                                                                                                   specialized mental health services, where needed.           of these ISF operations resulted in damages to
                                                                                                                   For children and women staying in collective                multiple properties, including refugee homes.
                                                                                                                   shelters, the creation of protected places and the
                                                                                                                   provision of educational support for school-aged            Against this rapidly deteriorating situation
                                                                                                                   children is needed to support their mental health           across the West Bank, including East Jerusalem,
                                                                                                                   and psychosocial wellbeing. In order to reduce              UNRWA seeks assistance to respond to increased
                                                                                                                   barriers and support education, internet access             demand for MHPSS for vulnerable refugees;
                                                                                                                   will be installed across UNRWA DESs and tablets             procure essential medical supplies for emergency
                                                                                                                   will be provided for displaced UNRWA students to            and critical care; provide recreational and
                                                                                                                   facilitate their continued access to learning.              psychosocial support, and summer programmes
                                                                                                                                                                               for vulnerable refugee children affected by the
                                                                                                                   The COVID-19 pandemic had already exposed                   current tensions.    Furthermore, UNRWA will
                                                                                                                   women and girls to greater risks of abuse and               deliver multipurpose cash assistance to refugee
                                                                                                                   violence. The consequences of the recent hostilities,       families whose properties have sustained damage
                                                                                                                   including displacement, stress and trauma                   in ISF operations and/or clashes, settler violence,
                                                                                                                   further increase protection risks for vulnerable            forcible displacement and demolitions; and
                                                                                                                   populations, including women, girls, persons with           ensure that UNRWA staff are able to continue
                                                                                                                   disabilities and the elderly. Prevention, detection,        providing services to vulnerable refugees in
                                                                                                                   response and monitoring of protection concerns,             need, in conditions of safety and security while
                                                                                                                   including Gender Based Violence (GBV), during the           working in an increasingly deteriorating security
                                                                                                                   emergency response and early recovery phases                environment.
                                                                                                                   remains imperative, as is the provision of specific
                                                                                                                   support to identified survivors.                            UNRWA will also continue to document violations,
                                                                                                                                                                               advocate for the protection and promote the
                                                                                                                   West Bank                                                   rights of over 860,000 Palestine refugees in the
                                                                                                                                                                               West Bank including East Jerusalem.
                                                                                                                   The ongoing tensions and confrontations
                                                                                                                   are generating additional humanitarian and
                                                                                                                   protection needs in the West Bank, including East
                                                                                                                   Jerusalem. The recent violence has compounded
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funding requirements                                                                            intervention summary
                 Intervention                        Gaza          West Bank       Total        Gaza
Humanitarian assistance to displaced families in       3,954,695                    3,954,695   Humanitarian assistance to displaced families in           Mental Health and Psycho-Social Support (MHPSS)
and outside collective shelters                                                                 and outside collective shelters                            and Education in Emergencies (EiE)
Emergency health, including COVID-19                    367,053         69,986       437,039
prevention measures                                                                             UNRWA will continue to assist up to 350 individuals        UNRWA will implement MHPSS interventions to
                                                                                                staying in two collective shelters and unable to           assist children and adults in mitigating the impact
Emergency multi-sectoral cash assistance               5,578,525       164,793      5,743,318
                                                                                                return to their homes. Families will receive bottled       of the latest hostilities through activities facilitated
                                                                                                potable water and basic food parcels including             by trained counsellors, aimed at strengthening
Mental Health and Psychosocial Support                 4,440,000       463,980      4,903,980
                                                                                                bread, corned beef or tuna, dairy products and             their psycho-social resilience, coping capacities
(incl. staff care)
                                                                                                fresh vegetables and fruits, to cover their minimum        and mental well-being.
Education in Emergencies                                488,400                      488,400    caloric needs.
                                                                                                                                                           Children will also be provided with material
Environmental Health                                    366,300         22,200       388,500    UNRWA will distribute NFIs to needy families,              support to facilitate their access to remote learning.
                                                                                                including those who have been displaced, and also          In addition, UNRWA will equip its current 55 DES
Protection                                              909,090        530,580      1,439,670   requires NFIs to replenish buffer stocks as part of        schools with a network of internet hotspots to
                                                                                                preparedness measures. In total, 7,000 NFI kits will       allow access to remote education during possible
Emergency repairs and maintenance of                   4,939,500                    4,939,500   be procured.                                               future emergencies. Some students will also be
UNRWA installations                                                                                                                                        provided with tablets to facilitate their remote
Transitional Shelter Cash Assistance (TSCA)            3,108,000                    3,108,000   Emergency health                                           learning.

                                                                                                In order to reduce the risk of exposure to and spread      Further psychosocial support to contribute
Emergency shelter repair (major/minor repairs)⁷      77,700,000                   77,700,000
                                                                                                of COVID-19 inside collective shelters, UNRWA will         towards children’s physical and mental wellbeing
Emergency shelter repairs (reconstruction/repair     51,282,000                   51,282,000    implement several preventive measures, including           will be provided in UNRWA schools by way of after-
of severely damaged shelters)                                                                   the provision of Personal Protective Equipment             school activities and the organization of summer
                                                                                                (PPE) to staff and IDPs. Agency health teams will          fun weeks targeting up to 150,000 students during
Emergency preparedness                                 7,048,500                    7,048,500   continue to visit collective shelters on a regular         July and August, integrating COVID-19 preventive
Capacity and Management, including Security            1,554,000       632,851      2,186,851   basis and identified refugees in need will be              measures. During the first semester of the 2021 /
                                                                                                referred to the nearest Health Centre to receive           2022 school year, UNRWA is planning to expand its
Total                                               161,736,063      1,884,390   163,620,453    proper assistance. UNRWA will also ensure the              MHPSS support in schools to continue to address
                                                                                                continued availability of infection control and            trauma and psychosocial needs created by the
                                                                                                hygiene materials at collective shelters.                  impact of the recent hostilities.

                                                                                                One-off multi sectoral cash assistance                     Additional international staff capacity will be
                                                                                                                                                           deployed to assist in the provision of MHPSS and
                                                                                                To support the emergency humanitarian needs                protection services to refugees, especially women
                                                                                                of most vulnerable families impacted by the                and children and persons with disabilities staying
                                                                                                hostilities, UNRWA will provide an estimated               in collective shelters, as well as to respond to
                                                                                                21,000 vulnerable families with one time multi-            increasing needs in the wider community.
                                                                                                sectoral cash assistance of NIS 800/family
                                                                                                (equivalent to almost US$ 250) to help cover their         Finally, staff care, including MHPSS services for
                                                                                                most immediate needs with the dignity of choice.           UNRWA staff, will also be provided.
                                                                                                The caseload includes displaced, poor and cash-
                                                                                                strapped families, who will be prioritized through a
                                                                                                multi-vulnerability assessment formula.
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                                                                                                                shelters (corresponding to 14,000 families).               infrastructure, to ensure services can be maintained
Environmental Health (WASH)                            possible. Child and female friendly spaces will also
                                                                                                                                                                           even in times of emergencies. This includes
                                                       be set up in collective shelters to maintain security
                                                                                                                Across all shelter interventions, UNRWA will               essential works on wells as water and sanitation
UNRWA will ensure that the environment at the          and psychological well-being.
                                                                                                                continue to coordinate closely with the shelter            networks and ensuring more adequate and
collective shelters is consistent with environmental
                                                                                                                cluster and the Ministry of Public Works and Housing       locally-based sanitation fleet capacity to handle
health standards, including designated points          Due to the increased risk of death or injury from ERW,
                                                                                                                (MoPWH) to ensure consistency of assistance.               more recurrent trips to temporary dumping sites.
for garbage collection and solid waste disposal        especially amongst children, training of trainers
mechanisms. Extra potable water capacity is being      for risk assessments, risk education and rendering
                                                                                                                Agency engineers and social workers will conduct           Capacity and Management, including Security
mobilized using bottled water. UNRWA aims to           sites safe will be conducted in cooperation with
                                                                                                                damage assessments to shelters, classifying
recover/recycle locally all water bottles to local     the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS).
                                                                                                                them into totally demolished/severe repair                 UNRWA will continue to assist displaced families
vendors who repurpose plastic into other products.
                                                                                                                (uninhabitable), major repair and minor repair             through a team of staff trained on emergency
                                                       Safeguarding neutrality and ensuring neutrality
                                                                                                                cases.                                                     response. Lessons learned from previous conflicts
In addition, UNRWA will assess damage and              is mainstreamed throughout the response will
                                                                                                                                                                           and the ongoing pandemic response, including
implement repair and upgrade works to water,           remain critical for the continued operational
                                                                                                                For reconstruction cases, UNRWA will help                  ensuring the neutrality of UNRWA installations
sanitation and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure in        effectiveness and safety of staff, beneficiaries
                                                                                                                beneficiaries to complete the required                     and further mainstreaming of GBV risk mitigation,
selected UNRWA locations sought out by IDPs            and UNRWA facilities. UNRWA will enhance staff
                                                                                                                administrative processes, including the importation        have been incorporated into UNRWA protocols.
during the escalation as well as the Agency’s WASH     capacity in relation to neutrality and will also hire
                                                                                                                of reconstruction materials via the residential
infrastructure in support of refugee camps (e.g.       additional staff for guarding and monitoring, to
                                                                                                                stream of the Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism                Where needed, additional staff and material
water wells, pumping stations as well as water and     ensure the neutrality of its installations especially
                                                                                                                (GRM). The Agency will provide guidance and                support will be deployed for information
sanitation networks).                                  at locations designated as DESs.
                                                                                                                referrals in coordination with key stakeholders (e.g.      tracking (e.g. shelter damages assessments and
                                                                                                                municipalities, governmental authorities and other         interventions by social workers), monitoring,
Protection                                             Emergency repairs and maintenance of UNRWA
                                                                                                                humanitarian actors).                                      evaluation and quality assurance activities, as
                                                       installations
                                                                                                                                                                           well as additional back-office and specialized
UNRWA will seek to create a safe and dignified
                                                                                                                A self-help approach will be used for total                surge support (e.g. MHPSS, protection, grant
environment for persons staying in the DESs by         Following preliminary damage assessments,
                                                                                                                reconstruction cases, provided in phases based             management), including by UNRWA HQ
employing mechanisms to prevent, identify and          UNRWA will conduct detailed assessments into
                                                                                                                on necessary documentation provided by the                 programmes and support departments.⁸
respond to abuse, including and especially GBV.        rehabilitation, repair and refurbishment needs
                                                                                                                family (e.g. licenses, drawings etc.) and depending
The supervision and protection of children will        across some 113 UNRWA installations, including
                                                                                                                on reconstruction progress. The costing for such           West Bank
be an area of increased focus. School counsellors      the Gaza Field Office compound and UNRWA HQ in
                                                                                                                works is developed in close coordination with
will regularly meet children through group and         Gaza. As a key priority, 59 UNRWA schools that were
                                                                                                                other key actors, including the MoPWH and the              Emergency health
individual sessions to provide MHPSS and to            used as temporary shelters and 40 that sustained
                                                                                                                United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
sensitize them and the wider population on             collateral damage will need rehabilitation, repairs
                                                                                                                                                                           Civil unrest in the West Bank, including East
reporting mechanisms for all forms of abuse,           and refurbishment before they can safely re-open
                                                                                                                Construction activities in this appeal will                Jerusalem, has resulted in an increased demand
including Protection against Sexual Exploitation       for regular operations.
                                                                                                                be implemented in line with the Agency’s                   for emergency medical services for those injured
and Abuse (PSEA). These sessions will also be used
                                                                                                                environmental management strategies and tools              and MHPSS for those traumatized by the ongoing
to refer detected cases of abuse, neglect or any       Shelter (TSCA, reconstruction/severe, major and
                                                                                                                to ensure responsible environmental and social             confrontations and violence. In response, UNRWA
protection/social issue to UNRWA social workers        minor shelter repairs)
                                                                                                                management and improve energy efficiency.                  will strengthen access to essential health services
who will lead cross-programmatic case conferences,
                                                                                                                                                                           for vulnerable, remote and isolated refugees,
leading to internal or external referrals. MHPSS       Under this appeal, UNRWA plans to support the
                                                                                                                Emergency preparedness                                     including primary health care and emergency
services will also be offered to all adults.           reconstruction/repair of 1,400 refugee shelters that
                                                                                                                                                                           responses, through mobile, standby teams to
                                                       were completely demolished or severely damaged.
                                                                                                                As the number of available UNRWA DESs was                  support existing staff to respond to the increased
Trained and designated staff will be assigned to
                                                                                                                exceeded by the number of IDPs in need of safety           needs.
respond to reports of any manner of abuse and          To alleviate hardship for families whose homes have
                                                                                                                and shelter during the recent escalation, the
gender related violence and work closely with          become uninhabitable and to partially subsidize
                                                                                                                Agency will also assess the potential for upgrading        Unconditional multi-sectoral cash assistance
community members inside DESs to develop               adequate temporary shelter solutions, UNRWA will
                                                                                                                and equipping additional UNRWA schools
community-based self-protection mechanisms.            provide transitional shelter cash assistance to 1,400
                                                                                                                including with WASH, CCTV, internet, solar panels          In the West Bank including East Jerusalem, UNRWA
Guidance to DES Managers on protection                 families for a period of up to six months.
                                                                                                                and batteries, to serve as designated emergency            will strengthen its assessment and preparedness
standards be will further emphasized through
                                                                                                                shelters (for an estimated number of 25 additional         capacity, and will provide multipurpose cash
in-person monitoring by Protection teams as the        Families facing major and minor repair works to
                                                                                                                DES), in times of conflict and emergency.                  subsidies to an estimated 80 to 100 families
security situation allows. Protection incidents will   their homes will be supported with one-off cash-
                                                                                                                                                                           whose properties have sustained damage in ISF
be monitored, documented and responded to and          grants depending on the individual home and the
                                                                                                                In addition, UNRWA will conduct essential repairs          operations and/or clashes, settler violence, forcible
exposure to protection threats minimized as far as     level of damage. Under this appeal, UNRWA plans
                                                                                                                and maintenance of its environmental health                displacement and demolitions. Each family will
possible. Child and female friendly spaces will also   to support minor/major repairs to 14,000 refugee
16 updated humanitarian and early recovery appeal                                                                                                 united nations relief and works agency for palestine refugees in the near east   17

An Israeli Police checkpoint in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood of
occupied East Jerusalem. © 2021 UNRWA Photo by Kazem Abu Khalaf

                                                                                                                           documentation of Human Rights (HR) and IHL                Where needed, additional temporary staff and
   receive on average US$ 1,300 (support will vary                   and to identify vulnerable and affected children
                                                                                                                           violations will also continue, with a focus on            material support might be deployed for information
   based on type of response).                                       for inclusion in dedicated PSS interventions over
                                                                                                                           excessive use of force, displacement threats,             tracking (e.g. assessments), monitoring, reporting
                                                                     the summer break and into the new school year.
                                                                                                                           and refugee communities highly vulnerable to              and grant management, and support to operations.
   Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS)
                                                                                                                           violence perpetrated by ISF and/or Israeli settlers.
                                                                     To continue to support the psychosocial well-
   UNRWA will enhance MHPSS service provision                        being of refugee children, UNRWA will run
                                                                                                                           Environmental health
   for refugees affected by violence, including GBV                  summer camps, targeting up to 5,185 students
   survivors and vulnerable persons with disabilities,               from grade 7 to 9 (ages 12 to 15) across the West
                                                                                                                           Under this appeal, UNRWA will repair / replace
   women and girls.                                                  Bank, including East Jerusalem. Additionally, in
                                                                                                                           waste containers in refugee camps damaged
                                                                     response to the steep increase in PSS needs among
                                                                                                                           during recent clashes and confrontations.
   Children have been seriously affected by the recent               students in Gaza, the possibility of a joint summer
   escalation in hostilities and violence, causing                   camp with students from the West Bank including
                                                                                                                           Capacity and management, including security
   psychological distress and depriving them of a safe               East Jerusalem and Gaza will also be explored.
   and secure space to access education. Following
                                                                                                                           Given the deteriorating security situation in the
   the temporary closure of schools due to heightened                Protection
                                                                                                                           West Bank, UNRWA will enhance its security
   tensions between 16 and 19 May, UNRWA school
                                                                                                                           measures in all areas across the West Bank, including
   counsellors have resumed their work in close                      UNRWA will continue to provide protection
                                                                                                                           the UNRWA compound in East Jerusalem, to ensure
   coordination with teachers and School Principals                  responses for vulnerable refugees affected by
                                                                                                                           compliance with security recommendations and
   to provide urgent psychological support services                  confrontations, settler violence and forcible
                                                                                                                           ensure the safety and well-being of the Agency’s
   during the last few weeks of the school term,                     displacement.   Advocacy,     monitoring  and
                                                                                                                           personnel.
18 updated humanitarian and early recovery appeal                                                                                        united nations relief and works agency for palestine refugees in the near east   19

footnotes
1 UNRWA remains an active participant in              7 Efforts are still underway in 2021 to reconstruct
the shelter cluster and is part of coordinated        homes destroyed during the 2014 conflict. In
damage assessments and the rapid damage               accordance with the HCT approach recommended
and needs assessment (RDNA) that the World            by the Shelter Cluster and presented in the oPt
Bank is organizing in Gaza in coordination with       inter-agency flash appeal launched on 27 May
UNSCO. UNRWA remains an active participant            2021, families who lost their homes in the 2014
in the shelter cluster and is part of coordinated     escalation of hostilities and remain displaced,
damage assessments and the rapid damage and           and those who live in homes that were damaged
needs assessment (RDNA) that the World Bank is        in that context and are yet to be repaired, remain
organizing in Gaza in coordination with UNSCO.        priorities and support will resume upon availability
                                                      of funds. Financial requirements in this appeal do
2 Response to the escalation in the oPt | Situation   not include outstanding needs from 2014.
Report No. 3 (4-10 June 2021) | United Nations
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs   8 Costs of HQ support needs are included in the
- occupied Palestinian territory (ochaopt.org)        management and capacity budget lines.

3 UNRWA Protection and Neutrality Database

4 UNRWA Protection and Neutrality Database

5 An estimated 900 families own more than one
shelter unit impacted by the hostilities. UNRWA
will only provide support for one shelter unit per
family.

6 Based on UNRWA estimates and initial
assessments provided by the Ministry of Public
Works and Housing.

                                                                                                             department of planning
                                                                                                             unrwa headquarters
                                                                                                             po box 140157, amman 11814
                                                                                                             jordan
                                                                                                             Tel: +962 (6) 580 2512
                                                                                                             www.unrwa.org
20 updated humanitarian and early recovery appeal

                                                                ‫دائرةالتخطيط‬
                                                                ‫ عمان‬- ‫األونروا‬
                                                  11814 ‫ عمان‬، 140157 :‫ب‬.‫ص‬: ‫العنوان البريدي‬
                                                                    ‫األردن‬
                                                           )+٩6٢ ٦( ٥٨٠2512 : ‫هـ‬

                                                      department of planning
                                                   unrwa headquarters - amman
                                                   po box 140157, amman 11814
                                                              jordan

                                                          t: (+962 6) 580 2512

                                                          www.unrwa.org

united nations relief and works agency    ‫وكالة األمم المتحدة إلغاثة وتشغيل‬
for palestine refugees in the near east   ‫الالجئين الفلسطينيين في الشرق األدنى‬
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