MoSD and the Palestinian Red Crescent: Joint Support for Rehabilitation and Emergency Response Services
Ramallah – Thursday, May 15, 2025 – Minister of Social Development and Acting Minister of State for Relief Affairs, Dr. Samah Hamad, conducted an official visit to the headquarters of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) in Al-Bireh. She was received by PRCS President Dr. Younis Al-Khatib, Director General Mr. Khaled Yaqub Haidar Abu Ghoush, and a number of professionals specialized in rehabilitation and community services.
The two parties discussed ways to strengthen joint coordination in emergency and humanitarian response, particularly in light of the worsening living conditions in Gaza and the ongoing military incursions in the West Bank.
Dr. Hamad received a comprehensive briefing from the PRCS team on the current health and humanitarian interventions in both the West Bank and Gaza. Despite operating under extremely difficult conditions, PRCS continues to provide critical services. In Gaza, the society runs two hospitals (Al-Amal in Khan Younis and Al-Quds in Gaza City), in addition to two field hospitals, around 20 medical points, and five primary care clinics. However, PRCS teams are facing severe challenges due to the shortage of fuel and medical supplies, currently operating at one-third of their ambulance fleet’s capacity.
In the West Bank, PRCS provides emergency medical and humanitarian services during repeated incursions and violations. Their teams help evacuate besieged families, provide first aid to the injured, and distribute relief aid in Jenin and Tulkarem refugee camps, in coordination with partners. PRCS personnel are frequently exposed to attacks and Israeli-imposed restrictions while carrying out their humanitarian duties.
Dr. Younis Al-Khatib, PRCS President, emphasized the importance of the partnership with the Ministry of Social Development and its role in strengthening the resilience of marginalized groups in Palestinian society. He reaffirmed the Society’s readiness to support all governmental programs amid escalating challenges.
Dr. Hamad commended PRCS for its leading role and continued collaboration with government institutions. She stressed the importance of unifying efforts to deliver an integrated emergency response, particularly in Gaza, which is witnessing a severe humanitarian collapse due to the ongoing closure and obstruction of humanitarian aid entry.
At the conclusion of the visit, a new cooperation agreement was signed between the Ministry of Social Development and the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, aimed at supporting and expanding day rehabilitation services and autism spectrum care for persons with disabilities, serving 60 cases per month. Services covered include psychosocial rehabilitation, physical and occupational therapy, and speech therapy.
Dr. Hamad affirmed that the agreement aligns with the government’s efforts to protect marginalized and affected groups, and to enhance psychosocial support interventions during emergencies. She emphasized that the government is committed to providing dignified shelter solutions for displaced families, favoring rental options out of respect for citizens’ dignity, while working on reconstruction proposals to be presented to international partners and donors.
Dr. Al-Khatib stated that this step reflects the Society’s continued commitment to the most vulnerable groups, particularly persons with disabilities, and complements PRCS’s broader role through its network of rehabilitation centers across the West Bank and Gaza, which provide comprehensive care and rehabilitation services.
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MoSD Announces the Launch of Procedures to Develop a Regional Ageing Index in Cooperation with ESCWA
Ramallah – Minister of Social Development and Acting Minister of State for Relief, Dr. Samah Hamad, announced that the Ministry of Social Development has initiated procedures to develop a regional ageing index in cooperation with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). The initiative aims to develop a regional tool to measure the situation of older persons and identify their needs, contributing to the development of policies, programmes, and services provided for them. Dr. Hamad affirmed that the Ministry has given this project high priority at the current stage, given its importance in strengthening the data system related to older persons and providing scientific indicators that help assess their situation, identify their needs, and support evidence-based planning and policymaking, thereby improving the quality of services and social protection provided to this group. She explained that the project builds on the discussions held during the workshops organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), in cooperation with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), with the participation of national focal points on ageing and older persons, as well as national statistical offices from Arab countries. These discussions underscored the importance of developing a unified regional index that serves as a scientific reference for measuring the situation of older persons and monitoring progress in protecting their rights and improving their quality of life. Dr. Hamad added that the index will support the Ministry's efforts to develop national policies and programmes for older persons by strengthening the use of data and statistics in setting priorities and guiding interventions, in line with the demographic changes and the social and humanitarian challenges facing the region. She noted that the Ministry has begun completing the necessary technical and administrative procedures for implementing the project through coordination with the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation, in accordance with the approved mechanism for cooperation with ESCWA, in preparation for the commencement of joint work on developing the index. Dr. Hamad emphasized that the development of the index reflects the Ministry of Social Development's commitment to strengthening cooperation with regional and international institutions and benefiting from technical expertise in developing modern data-driven tools that support the rights of older persons, contribute to building more efficient and responsive social policies, and enhance their quality of life and dignity.
MoSD Signs Agreement with the Palestinian Medical Relief Society to Strengthen Protection Services
Ramallah – The Ministry of Social Development today signed a cooperation agreement with the Palestinian Medical Relief Society (PMRS), with support and funding from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), aimed at strengthening the protection system for women and girls and ensuring the continuity and development of protection, case management, psychosocial support, and empowerment services. The agreement seeks to improve the quality of services provided, particularly for women and girls who are survivors of violence or at risk of violence. The signing ceremony was attended by Akram Al-Hafi, Assistant Undersecretary for Family Care and Protection; Mohammad Al-Qarm, Director General of the General Directorate of Family Affairs; and Hiba Jebat, Head of the Gender Unit. Representing the Palestinian Medical Relief Society were Dr. Suhail Aqabneh, Director General; Dr. Jameel Hamad, Jenin Area Director; Dr. Maryam Sawalmeh, Programmes and Projects Coordinator; and Bahia Omrah, Director of External Relations and Projects. Also in attendance were Shruti Ho, Assistant Representative and Programme Manager at the United Nations Population Fund, and Sana Assi, Gender Analyst. The agreement provides a framework for cooperation between the Ministry and the Society to strengthen protection services for women and girls, ensure the continued operation of the Protection Centre in Jenin Governorate, and provide case management, psychosocial support, awareness-raising, and empowerment services. It also includes capacity-building for staff and the development of service delivery mechanisms. Funded by UNFPA, the agreement provides for the recruitment of 15 staff members, including 13 personnel whose previous contracts had ended to ensure the continuity of protection services, in addition to creating two new positions to support the Protection Centre in Jenin Governorate, without imposing any direct financial obligations on the Ministry of Social Development. Minister of Social Development and Acting Minister of State for Relief, Dr. Samah Hamad, stated that the agreement represents an important step toward strengthening the social protection system and enhancing services provided to women and girls, particularly survivors of violence. She noted that programmes addressing the protection of women and children are among the most complex and sensitive programmes implemented by the Ministry in light of growing humanitarian and social needs. She stressed that strengthening partnerships with civil society organizations and international partners is a fundamental pillar for ensuring the continuity and further development of services, while guaranteeing their accessibility to the most vulnerable groups. For his part, Dr. Suhail Aqabneh, Director General of the Palestinian Medical Relief Society, stated that the agreement reflects the long-standing partnership between the Society and the Ministry of Social Development and contributes to ensuring the continuity of protection and psychosocial support services, particularly in Jenin Governorate. He affirmed that the Society will continue working alongside the Ministry to further develop services and reach those most in need, ensuring a more effective and sustainable response. Meanwhile, Shruti Ho, Assistant Representative and Programme Manager at UNFPA, reaffirmed the Fund’s continued support for the Ministry of Social Development in strengthening protection services for women and girls. He noted that the agreement’s funding is intended to ensure the continuity of essential services and strengthen the capacities of national institutions. He also highlighted that UNFPA is working to assess and improve services provided through safe spaces for women, contributing to better service distribution and enhanced access for beneficiaries. The parties affirmed that the agreement marks an important step in strengthening partnerships among government institutions, civil society organizations, and international partners, contributing to the development and sustainability of social protection services. They also stressed the importance of continued coordination to ensure that protection, psychosocial support, and empowerment services reach women, girls, and other vulnerable groups.
