MoSD Discusses Humanitarian Situation in Palestine
Ramallah – Dr. Samah Hamad, Minister of Social Development and Minister of State for Relief Affairs, emphasized the importance of continued international support for Palestinian institutions and strengthening their capacity to continue providing essential services to citizens, particularly the most vulnerable groups, amid the unprecedented humanitarian and financial challenges facing Palestine.
Her remarks came during a meeting held on Friday with members of the parliamentary group of Germany’s Social Democratic Party (SPD) in the German Bundestag, with the participation of representatives from UN agencies, international organizations, and civil society institutions. Discussions focused on developments in the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, the challenges facing humanitarian action, and ways to strengthen the international response.
During the meeting, Dr. Hamad presented an overview of the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, noting that the war has resulted in the deaths of more than 72,000 Palestinians and injuries to over 172,000 others. More than 90% of the population has been displaced, while over 18,000 children have been killed and more than 58,000 children have lost one or both parents. She further noted that more than one million children are in need of psychosocial support services.
She stressed that these figures reflect the scale of the unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe facing Palestinians amid continued restrictions on humanitarian access and the deterioration of living conditions and essential services.
Dr. Hamad also highlighted the Government’s efforts during the previous ceasefire period through the Government Operations Room, which coordinated humanitarian interventions among government institutions and international and UN partners, monitored the needs of affected families, enhanced the efficiency of humanitarian response efforts, and supported relief and social protection interventions for the most vulnerable groups.
She emphasized that Palestinian institutions continue to fulfill their national responsibilities and deliver services to citizens despite the exceptional circumstances. She noted that the continued withholding of Palestinian clearance revenues places significant pressure on the Government’s ability to sustain essential services and implement social protection programs.
The Minister also addressed the challenges facing a number of national and international organizations operating in the occupied Palestinian territory, emphasizing the importance of maintaining and supporting their operations as key partners in delivering humanitarian, health, and social services, particularly in the Gaza Strip. She called for continued funding and support to enable these organizations to respond effectively to growing needs.
Dr. Hamad stressed that support for Palestinian institutions extends beyond the humanitarian dimension and represents an investment in resilience, stability, and the ability of Palestinian society and its institutions to continue fulfilling their responsibilities toward citizens.
For their part, members of the parliamentary group of Germany’s Social Democratic Party reaffirmed their interest in closely following developments in the humanitarian situation in Palestine and their commitment to supporting humanitarian initiatives and strengthening cooperation with Palestinian institutions and international partners in order to help alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people.