Problem
In an atmosphere described as descending into a “trajectory of de-development” by the United Nations Country team in the occupied Palestinian territories, the situation in Gaza continues to decline. Fourteen years of blockade has caused restricted trade and economic stagnation that has resulted in a 52 per cent unemployment rate among Palestine refugees. With more than 1.1 million refugees (out of 1.42 million refugees registered with UNRWA) now classified as abject or absolute poor – most of them subsisting on less than US$ 1.74 per person per day – hopelessness and despair have become widespread.
In this fragile environment, orphaned children and children living with disabilities are more prone to neglect, abuse and long-term psychosocial issues and often suffer limited access to medical treatments and educational opportunities. The situation for these families has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, with hundreds of refugee families now reporting increased need due to lack of access to work opportunities during the government-imposed lockdown.