International Day of Persons with Disabilities: Empowering Persons with Disabilities Is a Collective Responsibility
Ramallah – On the occasion of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the Ministry of Social Development reaffirms its commitment to promoting the rights of persons with disabilities, protecting them, and advancing programs and services that ensure a dignified life and equal opportunities for participation, in light of the escalating challenges faced by our people in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
According to data from the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, the number of persons with disabilities before the attack on the Gaza Strip reached 115,152 individuals, including 59,000 in the West Bank and 58,000 in Gaza.
Impact of the Attack on Persons with Disabilities in West Bank Camps
Field follow-up by the Ministry and the Palestinian General Union of Persons with Disabilities revealed that 610 persons with disabilities were affected by the attack on camps in the northern West Bank, including 245 in Jenin Camp, 205 in Tulkarm Camp, and 160 in Nur Shams Camp, with many of them forced to leave their areas of residence.
Escalating Humanitarian Catastrophe in the Gaza Strip
In the Gaza Strip, the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate. Estimates from the World Health Organization indicate the emergence of more than 42,000 new disabilities since the beginning of the attack, in addition to 3,105–4,050 cases of amputation.
According to UNICEF reports, 90% of children in Gaza suffer from severe food poverty, while the percentage of children with disabilities out of school has risen to 69%, compared to 46% before the attack.
Figures also estimate that around 9,200 children became amputees by May 2025, amid the damage or destruction of more than 40 rehabilitation institutions, the partial operation of 50% of hospitals, and the damage of 88% of schools, many of which have been converted into shelters.
Impact of Occupation Practices in the West Bank
Practices by the occupying forces in the West Bank continue to increase disability cases due to excessive use of force and restrictions that impede timely medical access. Movement restrictions and damage to infrastructure also limit children with disabilities’ access to health and education services.
Displaced persons with disabilities face harsh conditions, including the lack of accessible environments, loss of assistive devices, and the urgent need for daily care for individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism—needs that are often unmet in displacement settings.
Economic Challenges and Participation in the Labor Market
Economic challenges further restrict opportunities for persons with disabilities. Financial crises and rising unemployment rates have reduced access to economic participation and limited employment opportunities, particularly in the public sector.
The Ministry affirms that its programs aim to expand decent work opportunities and promote economic empowerment for this group.
Service System Provided by the Ministry of Social Development
The Ministry of Social Development continues to provide an integrated system of services for persons with disabilities, including issuing disability cards, providing various assistive devices, physical and functional rehabilitation, psychological and social assessments, and programs for inclusion in education and employment.
The Ministry also supervises specialized centers offering day care, training, vocational empowerment, and residential care for cases requiring continuous follow-up, within a case-management system ensuring that beneficiaries receive appropriate services in cooperation with partner institutions.
Reaffirming National Commitment to Supporting Persons with Disabilities
On this occasion, the Ministry stresses that supporting persons with disabilities and strengthening their resilience remain a national priority. Efforts continue to develop policies and services that safeguard their rights and to create an environment that ensures their effective participation in society despite ongoing challenges.
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MoSD Receives Food Parcels to Support Displaced and Threatened Families in Jericho Governorate
As part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen the resilience of displaced, uprooted, and settler-violence-affected families, the Directorate of Social Development in Jericho and the Jordan Valley distributed 178 food parcels provided by the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF) to displaced and affected families in targeted communities across the governorate. The total value of the assistance amounted to NIS 44,500, as part of the humanitarian and relief interventions implemented by the Ministry in partnership with supporting organizations, aimed at alleviating the suffering of the most affected families and enhancing their resilience amid the difficult conditions they face. This intervention comes following a series of communications and coordination efforts between the Ministry of Social Development and the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund to implement relief interventions targeting displaced, uprooted, and settler-violence-affected families in Jericho and the Jordan Valley. The Ministry affirmed that the Directorate of Social Development in Jericho continues to monitor the conditions of displaced families and provide the necessary humanitarian and social interventions based on identified needs. The Directorate is also working on developing a comprehensive database for displaced families in the governorate, in coordination with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), to support unified efforts and strengthen the humanitarian response. The Ministry stressed the importance of partnership with local and international organizations in supporting the most vulnerable groups and providing essential needs for affected families, in a way that enhances the resilience of citizens in targeted communities.
MoSD and UNICEF Discuss Strengthening Humanitarian Response and Social Protection in Gaza
The Minister of Social Development and Acting Minister of State for Relief Affairs, Samah Hamad, received today a delegation from UNICEF headed by the organization’s Representative in Palestine, Jonathan Veitch, to discuss ways to strengthen joint cooperation in the fields of social protection and support for affected children and families, particularly in the Gaza Strip, in addition to reviewing a number of shared humanitarian and development programs and projects. Representing the ministry at the meeting were the Minister’s Advisor, Doaa Wadi; the Advisor to the Ministry of State for Relief Affairs, Mahdi Hamdan; the Assistant Undersecretary for Family Care and Protection, Akram Al-Hafi; and the Director General of Childhood Affairs, Mohammad Al-Qarm, alongside several staff members from the ministry’s general administrations and specialists. A number of UNICEF delegation members also attended the meeting. During the meeting, Dr. Hamad emphasized the importance of the strategic partnership with UNICEF, praising the organization’s role in supporting the social protection sector and assisting Palestinian children and families amid the difficult humanitarian conditions, particularly with the ongoing aggression against the Gaza Strip and the worsening humanitarian and living conditions. The Minister reviewed the efforts led by the ministry to reorganize the social protection sector through the development of the National Social Protection Network Protocol, in partnership with UNICEF, the World Food Programme (WFP), the International Labour Organization (ILO), and the World Bank. The initiative aims to regulate social assistance resources, unify beneficiary databases, ensure aid and services reach the most vulnerable groups, and prevent duplication in assistance delivery. The meeting also addressed the deteriorating humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip and the impact of the war on children, particularly in the areas of education, mental health, social protection, and children with disabilities. The UNICEF delegation affirmed its continued efforts to provide psychological and social support, establish temporary educational spaces for children within the Gaza Strip, and continue delivering educational and medical supplies, clothing, and humanitarian aid. Both parties also discussed the “The Gaza We Want” initiative, implemented by UNICEF with the participation of thousands of children in Gaza. The initiative aims to listen to children’s aspirations and future needs and involve them in shaping their vision for the future of the Gaza Strip, while also highlighting the importance of strengthening children’s participation and protecting their rights under the current circumstances. The meeting further discussed the importance of enhancing field coordination within the Gaza Strip and exchanging data and information related to assistance and services provided to families and children, in a way that strengthens integration between governmental institutions and international partners and contributes to improving the humanitarian response and social services provided to citizens. The meeting witnessed the signing of a joint work plan between the ministry and UNICEF, in addition to the signing of an agreement concerning aid funded by China, which includes winter supplies, clothing, and medical assistance designated for the Gaza Strip. At the conclusion of the meeting, commemorative shields were exchanged between the two sides, reaffirming the depth of the partnership and cooperation between the ministry and UNICEF, and expressing appreciation for the joint efforts aimed at supporting Palestinian children and families and strengthening their resilience in the face of ongoing humanitarian challenges.
