State of Palestine Appeal
Humanitarian Action for Children
UNICEF’s Humanitarian Action for Children appeal helps support the agency’s work as it
provides conflict- and disaster-affected children with access to water, sanitation, nutrition,
education, health and protection services. Return to main appeal page.
State of Palestine snapshot
Appeal highlights
Prolonged conflict and occupation are directly impacting the livelihoods of 2.4 million Palestinians and denying them safety and access to essential services, such as health care, safe drinking water and education. The divide between the West Bank and Gaza and the fiscal crisis are affecting institutions and exacerbating vulnerabilities.
The 12-year blockade on Gaza has limited the access of 1 million children to basic commodities and restricted freedom of movement. Since 30 March 2018, demonstrations at the fence between Israel and Gaza in the context of the Great March of Return have continued, leaving nearly 7,700 children injured and 43 children dead. The deterioration in the humanitarian situation in Gaza has led to increasing poverty and overwhelmed social services.
In 2019, children in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, have been affected by increases in insecurity, attacks on schools, settler violence, forcible transfer and movement restrictions. Children in contact with security forces, especially boys, continue to face grave protection risks, with potential long-term impacts. The realization of the right to education is compromised due to search operations in schools and violence towards students and teachers. Services addressing gender-based violence remain insufficient, nationwide.
Key planned results for 2020
18,300 children accessing mental health and psychosocial support and child protection interventions
10,420 newborns benefiting from quality life-saving health services in neonatal intensive care units
280,000 people accessing a sufficient quantity of safe water for drinking, cooking and personal hygiene
Funding requirements for 2020
Country strategy
UNICEF will work closely with partners to foster synergies between humanitarian and development assistance, emphasizing emergency preparedness. Given the deterioration of the water and sanitation situation and the energy crisis, UNICEF will provide safe drinking water, solar power, water tanks, network upgrades, improved latrines, sanitation services, hygiene promotion and access to school WASH facilities. To address the deteriorating protection situation, UNICEF will continue to prioritize strengthening child protection systems, including case management, psychosocial support, legal aid and addressing negative coping mechanisms.
Monitoring and reporting on child rights will inform evidence-based advocacy. In line with the National Health Strategy (2017–2022), UNICEF will support neonatal emergency health care, postnatal care and early childhood development, focusing on children with developmental delays and disabilities. In line with the Education Sector Strategic Plan (2017–2022), UNICEF will ensure that children benefit from improved access to quality and inclusive learning in safe environments and are enabled to contribute to their communities and national development. UNICEF will also support flood preparedness activities in high-risk areas. UNICEF will work with partners to operationalize accountability to affected people, and will work on an inter-agency Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse action plan.
Programme targets
Find out more about UNICEF's work
Highlights
Humanitarian Action is at the core of UNICEF’s mandate to realize the rights of every child. This edition of Humanitarian Action for Children – UNICEF’s annual humanitarian fundraising appeal – describes the ongoing crises affecting children in the State of Palestine; the strategies that we are using to respond to these situations; and the donor support that is essential in this response.
