Minister of Social Development Inaugurates Solar Energy Project
The Ministry of Social Development announced the completion of the installation of a solar energy system at the Orthodox Arab Charitable Shelter in Al-Eizariya, Jerusalem. The announcement was made during the handover of the solar energy system at the shelter's headquarters in Al-Eizariya this afternoon.
The event was attended by Dr. Samah Hamad, the Minister of Social Development, Dr. Ashraf Al-Aawar, Minister of Jerusalem Affairs, Abdullah Siyam, Deputy Governor of Jerusalem, Mr. Iyad Joudeh, representative of the Chairman of the Palestinian Investment Fund, Mr. Alexander Stuytman, EU Ambassador, and several representatives from official and national institutions.
In her speech, the Minister of Social Development expressed her gratitude to the Palestinian Investment Fund and the European Union for their grant, pointing out that the project enhances social development in Jerusalem. She emphasized the importance of coordination between local and international institutions to meet the city's needs and its institutions. She added that such projects reflect the importance of collaboration between all sectors, including the private sector, public sector, charitable work, and international donors, as it reflects a harmony of goals that address the significant needs of these institutions, especially in marginalized or targeted areas such as Jerusalem.
Dr. Ashraf Al-Aawar, Minister of Jerusalem Affairs, stressed that the Orthodox Arab Charitable Shelter is one of the Palestinian institutions that we are proud to have, as it provides distinguished services to people with disabilities and the elderly in the province. He affirmed that the continuity of this institution is a collective responsibility, and efforts are being made to strengthen and develop its services.
A representative of the Palestinian Investment Fund emphasized the importance of focusing on projects and institutions in Jerusalem to support their resilience against the occupation's measures, enabling them to continue providing services to various segments of the Jerusalemite community. The Orthodox Arab Charitable Shelter is one of the oldest institutions in Jerusalem, established in 1940, offering significant social services and has withstood all the obstacles and challenges imposed by the occupation. From this standpoint, we are proud to provide this grant, in line with our role in the Fund to support and empower our people in Jerusalem. Mr. Joudeh mentioned that the Fund operates within an integrated system of impact, whether through its investment portfolio aimed at achieving impact on key national economic indicators, or through programs that aim to provide support to small and medium-sized enterprises, or through the Fund's social responsibility program. He added that supporting the Orthodox Arab Charitable Shelter represents a model of this integration, as the Fund previously provided financial support to the shelter for the purchase of washing machines with a capacity of 27 kilograms per machine to accommodate the increasing needs of the shelter, which has contributed to providing better and faster services to residents, especially with the rising number of beneficiaries.
Abdullah Siyam, Deputy Governor of Jerusalem, pointed out that the city is facing an unprecedented attack from various occupation authorities, making strengthening the resilience of Jerusalem's institutions a noble goal. He expressed his pride in the shelter, its management, and staff, and looked forward to providing more support to ensure its continuity and development of its services.
This project is part of the Jerusalem Green Energy and Sustainability Grant Program, which aims to support small and medium-sized projects in the region. The solar energy system has a capacity of 100 kilowatts, which will cover about 74% of the shelter’s electricity needs. It is expected to reduce the electricity bill by approximately 166,000 shekels annually, allowing the shelter to allocate financial resources to other services. The Jerusalem Green Energy and Sustainability Program seeks to provide grants to projects that focus on renewable energy and sustainable environmental practices, and 30 projects have been funded so far.
Minister of Social Development Dr. Samah Hamad also conducted a comprehensive field tour in Jerusalem, visiting several social and educational institutions to enhance cooperation and support services for citizens.
The minister began her tour by visiting the Jerusalem Governorate headquarters in Al-Ram, aiming to strengthen joint coordination between the ministry and the governorate and discuss ways to support Jerusalem’s institutions and provide services that contribute to citizens' resilience amid current challenges.
Dr. Samah Hamad also visited the Dar Al-Aytam Al-Islamia Institution in Al-Eizariya and delivered a speech highlighting the institution's efforts in caring for children and providing shelter and educational services. She confirmed the ministry's commitment to strengthening partnerships with local institutions to use technology to improve services for children.
The minister visited the Arab Institute School, where she met with the teaching staff and students. In her speech, she highlighted the role of education in community building and the need to integrate technology into the educational process. She explained that the ministry provides 18 different services aimed at protecting children's rights until the age of 18, emphasizing the government's commitment to these rights under both local and international laws. The minister urged the students to take advantage of the educational opportunities at the institute and encouraged them to excel in their studies to achieve a better future and contribute to building the Palestinian state. She also reminded them of the difficult situation faced by their peers in Gaza, who are receiving education through electronic means despite harsh conditions.
At the Social Development Directorate headquarters in Abu Dis, Dr. Samah Hamad discussed the ministry's major projects and future plans, emphasizing the importance of using technology in child protection and women's support programs. She highlighted the close cooperation between government and non-governmental sectors to develop integrated services that meet community needs.
Dr. Samah also visited the Orthodox Charitable Shelter and in her speech highlighted the shelter's role in providing care for people with disabilities. In this context, the minister noted that the occupation is withholding clearance funds, leading to delays in reducing arrears for partner associations and institutions that provide services to people with disabilities and orphans. She clarified that since 2014, the ministry has been unable to pay 16 million shekels, but in the last seven months, it has managed to pay around 4 million shekels, with the largest portion directed to institutions in Jerusalem. She also mentioned the importance of investing in these institutions to protect vital areas and their lands, while emphasizing the EU's support for projects that enhance social and economic development.
The Minister of Social Development concluded her tour by visiting the Sakan Al-Zahra institution, where she emphasized the importance of supporting these institutions, which provide vital services to needy families. She reminded that the ministry is working to improve the level of services provided to ensure a decent life. She concluded her speech by advising the students at Sakan Al-Zahra to be diligent and committed, stressing that Palestinian youth are the leaders of the future.
The minister was accompanied on her tour by Undersecretary Taha Al-Irani, Director-General of the Jerusalem Directorate Amer Abu Mqadim, and several other general directors from the ministry.
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Access to Services & Information in an Understandable Language Is a Fundamental Right of Persons with Disabilities
Ramallah – On the occasion of the International Day of Sign Languages, observed on 23 September, the Ministry of Social Development affirmed that sign language represents a fundamental right for deaf and hard-of-hearing persons, and that ensuring accessible communication and access to government, social, health, and educational services forms part of the right to equality, participation, and independence. The Ministry explained that its role in supporting persons with disabilities is not limited to providing assistive devices, but also includes case management and social follow-up, health insurance, referrals to rehabilitation services, provision of wheelchairs, hearing aids, eyeglasses, hearing and vision examinations, medical supplies, protection and care services, economic empowerment, and linking persons with disabilities to specialized services and partner organizations. During 2026, the Ministry continued to develop its interventions for persons with disabilities through its directorates, centers, and partnerships with specialized institutions, with a focus on improving accessibility, facilitating access to services, and promoting social inclusion. The Ministry’s interventions also include providing assistive devices and technologies, following up on the most vulnerable cases, connecting them with rehabilitation, education, protection, and social support services, and working with partners to improve services in a manner that reflects different types of disabilities and the specific needs of each case. The Ministry stressed that sign language is not an additional service or a secondary support tool, but a fundamental means of exercising rights. The absence of accessible communication may prevent a deaf person from understanding a service, expressing their needs, reporting violence or abuse, or accessing care and protection. Providing reasonable accommodations and information in accessible formats is therefore an essential component of quality social services. This issue is of particular importance in the Gaza Strip, where war-related injuries have increased the number of people requiring rehabilitation services and assistive devices. Recent humanitarian reports indicate that around 2% of Gaza’s population is now living with serious conflict-related injuries, while shortages of rehabilitation equipment and assistive products, including hearing aids and mobility devices, persist, and the entry of such supplies continues to face prolonged delays. Reports also indicate an ongoing need for specialized services for children with disabilities in Gaza, including assistive devices, rehabilitation, psychosocial support, and referral services. At the same time, children with hearing, mobility, or visual disabilities face additional barriers to accessing protection, education, and information in overcrowded displacement settings. In July alone, hundreds of children with disabilities received multisectoral support, including cash assistance, assistive devices, rehabilitation, psychosocial services, and specialized referrals. The Ministry emphasized that strengthening sign language services and accessibility should extend across government services, health and educational institutions, protection and shelter centers, humanitarian information, warnings, and emergency guidance, ensuring that deaf persons can access information at the same time and to the same standard as others. The Ministry called on government institutions, civil society, the private sector, and donors to increase investment in sign language interpretation services, training for service providers, expanded digital and physical accessibility, provision of hearing and other assistive devices, and support for rehabilitation and inclusion programmes. It stressed that building an inclusive social protection system begins with removing the barriers that prevent persons with disabilities from independently and safely accessing their rights and services.
On World Alzheimer’s Day, MoSD Emphasizes the Importance of Expanding Specialized Care for Older Persons and Supporting Their Families
Ramallah – On the occasion of World Alzheimer’s Day, observed on 21 September, the Ministry of Social Development emphasized that protecting older persons requires an integrated care system that goes beyond the health dimension to include social protection, residential, home-based and day-care services, psychosocial support, assistive devices and equipment, and support for families, caregivers, and service providers, particularly as needs associated with ageing, chronic diseases, and Alzheimer’s disease continue to increase. The observance of World Alzheimer’s Day aims to raise awareness of Alzheimer’s disease, reduce stigma and discrimination, support families and caregivers, and promote early detection and access to health, social, psychological, and legal care services, thereby contributing to improving the quality of life of older persons and enhancing their independence and dignity. 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The Ministry further stressed that any exploitation, abuse, appropriation, or dissipation of the money or property of a person living with Alzheimer’s disease, or any disposal of such assets without legal authorization, must entail legal accountability and the necessary judicial action against those responsible, regardless of their status or degree of kinship. This is essential to protecting the rights, dignity, interests, and financial rights of persons living with Alzheimer’s disease. As part of its interventions, the Ministry operates Beit Al-Ajdad in Jericho, the only government residential care center for older persons in Palestine, providing comprehensive and free residential care to 100 older women and men annually from all governorates. 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The Ministry also provides financial allowances and health insurance to 65,000 older persons. The Ministry is also working to expand services for older persons by strengthening and broadening home-based and day-care services and establishing day clubs in cooperation with local authorities. These efforts aim to reduce social isolation, promote active ageing, strengthen communication and solidarity between generations, benefit from the experience and knowledge of older persons, and maintain their connection with their families and communities. The Ministry also continues to review and develop the national framework for older persons in line with demographic and social changes and the evolving needs of this group. As part of developing national policies and legislation, the Ministry of Social Development has begun updating the National Strategy for Older Persons for 2027–2029, in cooperation with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and all relevant partners. Work will also soon begin on reviewing and developing the draft law on older persons, with financial and technical support from the International Labour Organization (ILO) and in cooperation with partners, with the aim of adopting a modern Palestinian law that provides a protective and supportive environment for the rights of older persons. The Ministry is also strengthening the development of a national database on older persons through the Older Persons Form within the National Social Registry, which will provide more accurate data on their circumstances and needs. This will support the development of policies, improve the targeting of services and assistance in a more efficient and equitable manner, and strengthen evidence-based decision-making, particularly amid the continued hardship faced by older persons in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. 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Regarding the establishment of day clubs for older persons in towns and villages, the Ministry recently agreed with the Ministry of Local Government to begin work on five day clubs as an initial pilot phase in Beit Liqya, Beit Anan, Halhul, Tammun, and Battir. To date, only five local government directorates have submitted responses to their Ministry on this matter. The Ministry of Social Development and the Ministry of Local Government will soon conduct a visit to the Beit Liqya Day Club to follow up on the provision of its needs through the General Directorate of Projects at the Ministry of Local Government and to proceed with its opening and operation. The Ministry’s General Directorate for Older Persons has already provided furniture and other needs for the Beit Liqya club in cooperation with the Juzoor for Health and Social Development Foundation. In the Gaza Strip, these needs are even more acute due to repeated displacement, overcrowding, difficulties in accessing medicines, food, water, and health services, and the loss of family and community care networks. Recent humanitarian reports continue to indicate displacement and restrictions on access to essential services, while older persons with disabilities and those with health and rehabilitation needs face severe shortages of supplies, assistive devices, and specialized services. The Ministry continues to follow up on the situation of older persons in Gaza, identify their needs, and cooperate with national and international partners to provide available assistance and essential supplies. The Ministry stressed that older persons, particularly those living alone or with chronic diseases or cognitive conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, are at greater risk of neglect and disruption in access to medication, nutrition, and psychological follow-up during displacement and crises. This requires giving them priority within the humanitarian response, strengthening referral systems and home- and community-based care, and supporting families that bear responsibility for their care. The Ministry of Social Development called on local and international partners and donors to expand investment in specialized care for older persons, home-based and day-care services, psychosocial support, caregiver training, medicines, and assistive devices, as well as to ensure that the needs of older persons in the Gaza Strip are adequately addressed. The Ministry affirmed that caring for older persons is not a matter of charity, but a right linked to dignity, independence, protection, and participation in society, in accordance with the principles of human rights, international law, and international humanitarian law.
