Dr. Samah Hamad Assesses Services and Strengthens Support Mechanisms in Qalqilya
Qalqilya – In a field visit underscoring the priority of enhancing social resilience in areas affected by occupation and settlement expansion, Minister of Social Development and Acting Minister of State for Relief Affairs, Dr. Samah Hamad, arrived in Qalqilya Governorate accompanied by Deputy Minister Mr. Taha Al-Irani and a delegation of general directors, to assess the state of social services and reinforce field-level support mechanisms.
Dr. Hamad was received by Governor of Qalqilya, Major General Hossam Abu Hamda, with the participation of Fatah Secretary Mahmoud Walwil, Qalqilya Mayor Eng. Omar Sharifa, Chamber of Commerce President Tareq Shawar, Area Commander Brigadier General Jamal Asia, Qalqilya Directorate Director Mr. Maher Odeh, and representatives from local government bodies, security agencies, and the private sector.
During the extended meeting held at the Governor’s Office, participants reviewed the most pressing challenges facing the governorate—chief among them the expansion of settlements and the separation wall and their impact on humanitarian and living conditions. The discussion also addressed poverty, social assistance entitlements, the needs of persons with disabilities, autism services, and the infrastructure of public service centers.
Minister Hamad stressed that Qalqilya holds a special place in the Ministry's plans due to its exceptional circumstances and the continuous violations it endures from the occupation. She affirmed that government response is grounded in the lived realities of the people and that the Ministry operates according to clear priorities based on justice, need, and coordinated efforts among relevant institutions.
She further noted that the Ministry continues to work with international partners to ensure the sustainability of social protection interventions, despite financial crises and imposed restrictions. The meeting reaffirmed the importance of expanding programs targeting marginalized groups and enhancing psychosocial support, particularly in areas adjacent to the separation wall.
Following the meeting, the Governor accompanied the Minister and her delegation on a field tour that included a visit to the under-construction Government Services Complex, which will house multiple directorates under one roof, including the Ministry of Social Development. Dr. Hamad emphasized the importance of accelerating the completion and activation of the complex to facilitate citizens’ access to services and promote institutional integration within the governorate.
Dr. Hamad concluded her visit at the Qalqilya Directorate of Social Development, inspecting its new premises and stressing the urgency of completing the facility to ensure a dignified institutional environment that improves service quality and reinforces the state's presence in high-need areas.
She affirmed that the core of social protection lies in fieldwork, listening to people's needs, and improving service quality, adding that the Ministry will continue working in partnership with all relevant actors to strengthen resilience and advance social justice in the face of persistent challenges.
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