The Ministry of Social Development Provides Over 250,000 Relief Aids to Our People in Gaza
The Ministry of Social Development, through its field teams, continues its intensive efforts to provide humanitarian aid to affected families in the Gaza Strip, particularly with the return of displaced individuals to the northern part of the region after the ceasefire. Over the past few days, several distribution campaigns have been carried out in cooperation with a number of local and international organizations.
In the North Gaza Governorate, 10,000 food parcels were distributed by UNRWA, in addition to 1,000 parcels from CRS, 400 parcels from WCK, 500 parcels from the Ministry of Social Development, and 200 parcels from the Mylham Foundation. Additionally, 5,000 fruit and vegetable parcels were provided by the Global Kitchen in cooperation with partner organizations.
In Gaza Governorate, more than 25,000 mattresses were received from the Red Cross, along with 14,000 tents and blankets between January 18 and January 24. Additionally, 1,239 food parcels and 253 health parcels were received and distributed. A total of 3,657 blankets, 395 health parcels, and 92 water containers were allocated to the Khadeer warehouses. Furthermore, 908 pieces of clothing were provided to affected families.
The Ministry also facilitated the entry of 7 trucks loaded with food supplies into the central and southern regions, which were redirected to charity kitchens to prepare 210,000 meals for affected families.
Regarding winter relief efforts, the Ministry received 200 boxes of winter clothing from the Red Crescent in the north, which were distributed to families affected by displacement. Additionally, 347 blankets were distributed across various areas, with 297 blankets allocated to the German Beach Club camp and 50 blankets for scattered families listed in the database.
Moreover, 262 clothing vouchers valued at 800 shekels each were distributed, including vouchers for the New Hope Camp, the German Beach Club camp, and scattered families registered in the database. In response to urgent requests from displaced families in Gaza, 2,000 emergency aids were distributed.
The Ministry also held a series of meetings with international institutions and local associations to discuss mechanisms for distributing aid and ensuring it reaches those in need according to internationally recognized humanitarian standards.
An emergency response cell was formed to follow up on the situation of the displaced individuals coming from the north to Gaza, aiming to provide urgent assistance and alleviate their suffering. In this regard, the Ministry affirms that its teams continue to work tirelessly to ensure the delivery of urgent humanitarian support to our people in Gaza. The Ministry calls on all donor organizations to intensify relief efforts and respond swiftly to the needs of the population.
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On the International Day for the Elimination of Child Marriage, MoSD Affirms: Protecting Girls Begins with Education, Protection, & Family Empowerment
Ramallah – On the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Child, Early and Forced Marriage, the Ministry of Social Development emphasized that child marriage cannot be addressed in isolation from the broader social protection system, as it is linked to multiple factors, including poverty, school dropout, domestic violence, loss of parental care, displacement, and weakened protection networks. The Ministry explained that its role includes protecting children and girls at risk, providing case management, family interventions, psychosocial support, and referral services, and connecting families with assistance, essential services, and economic empowerment programmes. It also coordinates with relevant authorities when the safety of a child or girl is at risk. The Ministry places the best interests of the child and protection from exploitation and abuse at the heart of its child protection services. The Ministry stressed that preventing early marriage also requires protecting families from poverty and economic shocks, supporting girls' continued access to education, raising awareness of their rights, and strengthening families' ability to cope with pressures without resorting to practices that may expose girls to long-term physical, psychological, and social risks. The issue is particularly concerning in the Gaza Strip, where the Ministry warned that the loss of parental care, displacement, extreme poverty, and the declining capacity of extended families to provide care and protection increase children's vulnerability to various forms of exploitation, including early marriage. In this context, the Ministry continues to work with local and international organizations involved in child and women's protection to strengthen early intervention, referral pathways, alternative care, and psychosocial support, alongside assistance to the most vulnerable families to reduce the risk factors that may contribute to early marriage. The Ministry called for child marriage to be addressed as a child protection and human rights issue requiring coordinated action among families and social, educational, health, and legal institutions. It also called for increased investment in girls' education, protection, and empowerment to safeguard their right to grow, learn, and make decisions about their future freely and safely.
On World Children's Day, MoSD: Palestinian Children Face Harsh Realities of Loss, Displacement, Violence, & Deprivation
Ramallah – On the occasion of World Children's Day, observed annually on 20 November, the Ministry of Social Development emphasized that Palestinian children are facing extremely harsh conditions amid the continuing consequences of the Israeli military offensive on the Gaza Strip and escalating attacks, displacement, home demolitions, and movement restrictions in the West Bank, including Jerusalem. These conditions have deprived children of their lives, families, shelter, education, care, and safety. According to available United Nations data, at least 21,700 children have been killed in the Gaza Strip, while approximately 45,000 have been injured, including more than 11,000 children who have sustained life-altering injuries. Meanwhile, thousands of families continue to experience repeated displacement and deprivation of essential services. In the West Bank, including Jerusalem, children continue to face attacks, forced displacement of families, and damage to schools, homes, and infrastructure. More than 1,700 children have been displaced since the beginning of 2026 as a result of settler violence, movement restrictions, and demolitions. The Ministry stressed that the consequences of war and occupation extend beyond immediate casualties to include bereavement, family separation, hunger, school dropout, child labour, violence, exploitation, acquired disabilities, and psychological and social distress. These risks require a comprehensive and long-term child protection response. The Ministry explained that child protection is a central pillar of its work, implemented through Child Protection Departments in its directorates. These departments receive reports, assess levels of risk, provide case management and family follow-up, facilitate referrals to specialized services, and intervene in cases of violence, abuse, exploitation, and neglect. Their responsibilities also include protecting children engaged in labour or begging, children who have dropped out of school, and children in conflict with the law, in coordination with relevant government authorities and partner organizations. In the Gaza Strip, children's protection and care needs have intensified significantly, particularly among orphans, children deprived of parental care, separated and unaccompanied children, and those requiring psychosocial support. In cooperation with its partners, the Ministry is working to provide alternative care, social follow-up, sponsorship programmes, psychological support, and food, health, and in-kind assistance, while strengthening and restoring child protection services across the Gaza Strip. The Ministry emphasized that protecting children is inseparable from protecting their families. Accordingly, child protection services form part of a broader social protection system encompassing food, cash, and non-food assistance, health insurance, education, school bags and stationery, psychosocial support, services for persons with disabilities, and family economic empowerment. These interventions aim to reduce the risks associated with poverty, displacement, loss of income, and family instability. The Ministry of Social Development called on the international community, United Nations agencies, humanitarian organizations, and donors to provide sustainable support for the Palestinian child protection system. It urged continued funding for alternative care programmes, orphan sponsorship, psychosocial support, education, nutrition, and rehabilitation, alongside support for Palestinian national institutions capable of reaching children and families and ensuring sustained follow-up. The Ministry concluded by emphasizing that World Children's Day cannot be merely an occasion for celebration while Palestinian children are deprived of their most fundamental rights. It stressed that protecting children begins with safeguarding their right to life and extends to ensuring their rights to family care, shelter, food, education, healthcare, protection, and social support.
