Key Humanitarian Efforts and Field Interventions by the Ministry of Social Development During the Week
Ramallah – The Ministry of Social Development, led by Acting Minister of Social Development and Minister of State for Relief, Dr. Samah Hamad, continued its efforts at both the national and international levels this week, following a comprehensive vision to protect vulnerable groups and strengthen resilience amid ongoing aggression.
Dr. Hamad represented the Government of the State of Palestine in announcing that the Government of the Republic of Korea is providing $30 million through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UNICEF, and the World Food Programme (WFP) to support humanitarian interventions in Gaza. She emphasized that this support represents a lifeline for the Palestinian people at an extremely critical time.
Agreements and Partnerships
The Ministry signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Palestinian Vision Foundation to enhance child protection and empower youth through targeted projects, such as establishing educational corners in kindergartens and developing the “Awni” program to document violations against children.
Additionally, an MoU was signed with the YMCA – Jerusalem to develop rehabilitation and psychosocial support services for persons with disabilities and survivors of violence, ensuring their inclusion in society.
Local and International Coordination
Domestically, Dr. Hamad held a series of meetings to strengthen cooperation with local and international partners, including a meeting with the Minister of Public Works and Housing to discuss housing and shelter mechanisms for those affected by the aggression.
She also met with anti-violence organizations to explore ways to enhance protection and support for women and girls, participated in a Zoom meeting with Norwegian Ambassador Erik Berggron on cooperation in social protection and development, and held a session with UNICEF to improve monitoring and evaluation (M&E) systems for more effective humanitarian and development interventions.
Dr. Hamad also took part in a youth-led podcast organized by the Sharek Youth Forum, highlighting the Ministry’s key protection and development interventions, relief efforts in the West Bank and Gaza, and the role of the Government Operations Room in coordinating humanitarian response.
In parallel, the Ministry’s Deputy Minister, Mr. Taha Al-Irani, met with the Family and Juvenile Protection Directorate at the Palestinian Police, represented by Brigadier General Dr. Khawla Fadallah, to enhance cooperation in protecting marginalized groups and to agree on a joint work plan including training and field coordination to safeguard women and children.
Field Activities
Social development directorates continued developmental and relief activities across governorates.
In Tubas, the directorate participated in a summer camp for children with disabilities, including recreational activities and psychosocial support.
In Jericho and the Jordan Valley, the Child Protection Network implemented psychosocial support activities for displaced children in Aqabat Jabr camp.
The directorate supervised elections for the new administrative boards of the “Ambassadors of Happiness” and “Al-Imam Al-Shafi’i” associations.
In Tulkarm, the directorate signed a training agreement with Sophia Academy to qualify children from low-income families in hairdressing for entry into the labor market.
In Bethlehem, the Nursery Department organized a specialized workshop on Autism Spectrum Disorder with Caritas Children’s Hospital and, in partnership with Isnad Charitable Association, launched an initiative to distribute school bags to orphans.
In Jerusalem, the directorate, in cooperation with the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, distributed 600 school bags to children with social vulnerabilities and organized a recreational day for 200 children in northwestern Jerusalem towns in collaboration with UNRWA and the Jerusalem Governorate.
In Nablus, the directorate held a free medical day for the elderly and cancer patients, in collaboration with the Health Directorate and Basmat Hayat Charitable Association, providing free medical checks, services, and specialized referrals.
Diplomatic and Humanitarian Coordination
The Government Operations Room held a meeting attended by Dr. Samah Hamad, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Dr. Stefan Salameh, and German Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Mrs. Reem Ably-Radovan, to discuss ways to enhance humanitarian and development support for Palestine amid the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza.
Dr. Hamad highlighted the unprecedented humanitarian crisis in Gaza, calling for urgent action to halt the aggression and open crossings for aid delivery. The German minister reaffirmed her government’s commitment to supporting the Palestinian people and continuing partnership in development and relief efforts.
During the week, the Operations Room reviewed ongoing interventions:
Cash support provided to affected families reached over 500,000 households between 2023–2025.
The Belgian Development Agency implemented interventions worth nearly €107 million in education, governance, youth empowerment, and environmental and economic programs.
UN Women provided support to over 42,000 women and girls in Gaza since the beginning of the year, including protection, psychosocial support, and cash assistance.
Dr. Hamad emphasized that the Ministry remains committed to its humanitarian and developmental role in coordination with national and international institutions, ensuring protection and care for vulnerable groups. She stressed that the integration of local and international efforts is essential to strengthening the resilience of the Palestinian people in facing current challenges.
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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.
