The MoSD participates in the national event for International Volunteer Day and emphasizes the role of youth in supporting community resilience
Ramallah – Today, the Minister of Social Development, Dr. Samah Hamd, participated in the national event commemorating the International Volunteer Day, organized by the SHAREK Youth Forum in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), with wide participation from national and community-based institutions.
The event was attended by UNFPA Representative Mr. Nestor Omuhangi, Executive Director of SHAREK Youth Forum Dr. Bader Zama’rah, Ms. Rateeba Natsheh, Vice Chair of the Forum’s Board of Directors, Board Member Mr. Amjad Jumaa, Dr. Iyad Al-Karnaz, representative of the Stars of Hope Association in Gaza, Mr. Yahya Al-Khatib, Director of the Higher Council for Youth in Gaza, and Ms. Seema Alami, Youth and Adolescent Program Manager at UNFPA, in addition to representatives of partner institutions.
In her address, Dr. Hamd highlighted the role of the Government Operations Room in the southern governorates, explaining that it includes more than 50 national entities working in a unified manner to coordinate the humanitarian response. She emphasized that the Operations Room continues its efforts in organizing relief, supporting early recovery, and preparing for reconstruction, despite challenges related to the scarcity of aid and fieldwork constraints.
Dr. Hamd also addressed the situation in the West Bank, noting the escalation of attacks and incursions in several governorates, including the recent developments in Tubas, which witnessed a siege and incursions that negatively affected residents and the social fabric. She stressed that these violations necessitate strengthening cooperative and voluntary efforts to reinforce social resilience.
She further affirmed that the Ministry of Social Development continues to provide 18 social protection services, including support for poor families, child protection, services for older persons, youth empowerment, and care for persons with disabilities, in addition to relief interventions, despite rising poverty levels and declining assistance.
During the event, SHAREK Youth Forum presented a comprehensive overview of the National Volunteering Program and the role of youth networks in managing humanitarian initiatives in the West Bank and Gaza, as well as mechanisms to protect volunteers during fieldwork. A number of volunteers also shared examples of community initiatives implemented over the past year and their impact on supporting affected groups and strengthening social solidarity.
At the conclusion of the event, participants emphasized the importance of developing national volunteering programs and integrating the efforts of governmental and community institutions to ensure the protection of volunteers and expand field-based initiatives that support social resilience. The Minister also called on youth to strengthen their engagement within the Operations Room and various field institutions, to become active contributors to the response and recovery system.
Latest News
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.
