Palestinian Minister of Social Development Discusses Support for Affected Families with Arab Labor Organization, Social Sector, and League of Arab States in Tunis
Tunis – On the sidelines of the regional preparatory meeting for the Second World Summit for Social Development, H.E. Dr. Samah Hamad, Minister of Social Development of the State of Palestine, met with H.E. Mr. Fayez Al-Mutairi, Director-General of the Arab Labor Organization, as part of ongoing consultations with the Arab League’s Social Sector and key regional actors.
The meeting explored ways to strengthen cooperation to support vulnerable families affected by the ongoing crisis in Palestine and to develop comprehensive social protection programs that respond to escalating humanitarian needs. The aim is to help restore stability for families that have lost their sources of income and face deteriorating living conditions.
Mr. Al-Mutairi affirmed the Arab Labor Organization’s commitment to closely monitoring the social and economic situation in Palestine and expressed the organization’s readiness to provide various forms of support to affected groups. He emphasized the importance of documenting needs on the ground and presenting them in regional and international forums to mobilize necessary assistance.
Dr. Hamad highlighted that the severe loss of income sources has had a direct impact on living standards and increased poverty rates. She stressed the need to intensify joint efforts to deliver effective and sustainable social interventions.
She also called for the development of tailored support programs for the most vulnerable families, particularly women and marginalized groups, through small-scale productive initiatives and integrated social protection services aimed at alleviating the burden of the current crises.
The meeting also addressed how to benefit from successful regional experiences in financing community-based projects and building partnerships that can improve living conditions for the most affected populations.
Both sides concluded by affirming the importance of continued cooperation between the Arab Labor Organization and the Palestinian Ministry of Social Development, and the need to activate coordination channels with the Arab League’s Social Sector to enhance the impact of field interventions and uphold the principles of social protection and human dignity.

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On the International Day for the Elimination of Child Marriage, MoSD Affirms: Protecting Girls Begins with Education, Protection, & Family Empowerment
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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.

