MoSD Participates in Emergency Meeting of Arab Social Affairs Ministers and Reviews the Situation in Palestine
Ramallah – Minister of Social Development Dr. Samah Hamad participated today, Thursday, in the emergency meeting of the Council of Arab Ministers of Social Affairs, held via Zoom and organized by the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States – Social Affairs Sector, with the participation of a number of Arab ministers and officials, as part of ongoing follow-up on humanitarian and social developments across the region.
The meeting was held within the framework of an extraordinary session of the Council’s Executive Bureau, in implementation of the directives of the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, to discuss the repercussions of escalating humanitarian crises in several Arab countries, foremost among them Palestine.
In her remarks, Dr. Hamad reviewed the latest humanitarian developments in the Palestinian territories, noting that the Gaza Strip is facing a catastrophic reality amid the ongoing aggression. She stated that the number of martyrs has exceeded 72,000, with children and women accounting for nearly 60% of the total, while the number of injured has surpassed 171,000, a significant proportion of whom have become persons with disabilities.
She added that approximately 1.9 million people have been displaced within the Gaza Strip under extremely harsh humanitarian conditions, amid severe shortages of food, water, and healthcare services, alongside recorded deaths due to hunger and cold—particularly among children— in addition to the widespread destruction of infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, and universities.
The minister also addressed the situation in the West Bank and Jerusalem, in light of escalating settler attacks and military measures, which have led to economic decline and rising unemployment rates, as well as the impact of road closures and checkpoints on citizens’ mobility and livelihoods.
Dr. Hamad emphasized that the financial blockade and continued withholding of clearance revenues severely limit the Palestinian government’s ability to respond to growing needs, at a time when humanitarian assistance in Gaza covers no more than 20% of actual needs.
She also highlighted the efforts of the Ministry of Social Development in confronting these challenges, particularly in the areas of digital transformation, the development of electronic payment systems, and the expansion of the national social registry database, all of which contribute to improving response efficiency and ensuring that assistance reaches those who are most in need.
In concluding her statement, Dr. Hamad called for enhanced Arab support to the Palestinian public budget, intensified political and diplomatic efforts to end the aggression, continued support to UNRWA, and a stronger focus on direct cash assistance as an effective tool to strengthen citizens’ resilience.
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