During One Week: MoSD Expands Humanitarian Response and Launches Empowerment Initiatives in the West Bank

Ramallah – Under the leadership of Minister of Social Development and Acting Minister of State for Relief Affairs, Dr. Samah Hamad, the Palestinian Ministry of Social Development intensified its humanitarian, field, and development interventions across several governorates this week, as part of a comprehensive plan to bolster social resilience and protect the most vulnerable groups amid Palestine’s exceptional circumstances.

As part of institutional development and digital transformation efforts, the Ministry announced the full automation of the National Registry form for persons with disabilities and the customs exemption service (for individuals and proxies). This step aligns with the government's strategy to enhance social protection and streamline service delivery. Dr. Hamad emphasized that digital transformation is no longer optional, but a national necessity to ensure transparency and equity.

Dr. Hamad also participated in a national workshop organized by the Ministry of Justice titled “Institutional Memory in Times of War.” She stressed that data documentation has become a tool of national resilience, especially following the destruction of many institutional archives, and highlighted the urgent need to update social databases for timely and fair responses.

In a new step to empower youth, the Ministry launched the "Empowering the Future – Craft & Story" project from its headquarters in Ramallah, in partnership with Taawon Foundation, with support from GOAL Global, and implementation by Tamer Institute for Community Education. The project targets 200 adolescents aged 12–18 in Jenin and Tulkarm through intensive training in life skills, psychosocial support, and artisanal production, in response to the challenging conditions in northern West Bank governorates.

Field Engagements, Dr. Hamad conducted an inspection tour to Qalqilya Directorate, the Azzoun sub-office, the under-construction Government Services Complex, and Al-Qalb Al-Kabeer School for the Deaf. She also visited an economic empowerment project for girls with disabilities, emphasizing the need to complete institutional infrastructure and expand empowerment programs. She commended community-led initiatives that promote inclusion and social justice.

In Qalandiya Refugee Camp north of Jerusalem, the Minister reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to supporting refugees and strengthening social services in the face of escalating field challenges. She called for empowering adolescents, supporting community initiatives, and utilizing the Ministry’s programs and renewable energy projects in refugee camps.

In this context, the Minister held a coordination meeting with a delegation from Save the Children, where she affirmed the continued provision of integrated services to affected families in Gaza and the West Bank, including protection and cash support through the National Social Registry, despite financial and technical challenges. She emphasized the importance of intensifying coordination with partners to ensure an effective response. The organization expressed its commitment to supporting Palestinian children and continuing international pressure to ensure humanitarian access, affirming its readiness to enhance cooperation with the Palestinian government in confronting current challenges.

In Tulkarm, the Directorate carried out field visits with ANERA to assess families’ needs in villages and distribute meat as part of humanitarian aid. Coordination meetings with local and international partners were held to prioritize urgent needs and align aid distribution. A meeting was also held with Civil Defense to explore preparedness strategies to protect vulnerable populations during crises.

In Hebron, the Directorate began receiving flour shipments from President Mahmoud Abbas’s aid grant, supported by the Russian government, to be stored and transported to Gaza under a fair and efficient distribution plan. Additionally, a training initiative was launched for children in conflict with the law, in collaboration with civil society institutions, to promote vocational and social reintegration in safe environments.

In Jerusalem, the Directorate conducted a field visit to the Bedouin community in the village of Mikhmas, distributing food aid and assessing needs in light of ongoing assaults and the denial of water and basic services.

In Nablus, a children’s awareness event on disability and community inclusion was held at the German-Palestinian Club "Bieleh," with a social worker sharing her personal experience. The Directorate also held a consultative meeting with the Palestine Peace Ambassadors Forum to plan a free training program for young journalists focused on covering marginalized groups.

Meanwhile, the Directorates of Nablus, Tubas, and Jenin conducted a joint field activity at the American University shelters in Jenin, targeting displaced women with psychosocial support sessions and basic aid distribution, as part of a comprehensive humanitarian response for those affected by war and forced displacement.