Gaza Strip- Gaza Strip-Occupied Palestinian Territory(oPt)-ActionAid Palestine (AAP)implemented its third emergency intervention in partnership with the Palestinian Developmental Women Studies Association (PDWSA) in seven communities in Gaza strip Wadi Al-Salqa-Abu Al-Ajin ,West Al Zawaida, Al Mosadar, Jiher Al-Deek,Wadi Gaza, and middle area of Al Nuseirat).This support aimed at supporting groups that are mostly affected by the spread of corona virus and its consequences and lockdown affecting all the aspects of economy and services. AAP and PDWSA considered the needs of community organizations and basic needs of the most vulnerable groups including women, elderly and people with disabilities at times of crisis to ensure the respect to their dignity by integrating their needs and special conditions in the activities of this response to strengthen their resilience and capacities for combating COVID-19.
(photo of young woman volunteer during the distribution of diapers in Gaza Strip)
This response was implemented in cooperation with local committees and grassroot organizations seeking to promote the leading role youth play in preparedness and response actions of emergency. Youth were trained on how to address emergency cases, safety and preventive measures and social distance to ensure their security.
This response was funded by Disaster Preparedness and Response Fund (DPRF) managed by ActionAid International. It aimed to mitigate the impacts of sever economic and social challenges resulting from the prolonged blockade on Gaza over the 13 years and food insecurity. It also aimed to build the capacities of community organizations to be able to face this crisis and provide a motivating support in time to counteract the repercussions of dangers of blockade caused by the spread of virus.
(photo of young volunteers during the distribution of food parcels in partnership with the Palestinian Developmental Women Studies Association (PDWSA) in Gaza Strip)
This intervention includes diaper targeting 92 families having children with cerebral palsy and 292 families with elderly. It also contained hygiene and food parcels. 600 families headed by women were provided with food parcels in addition to 1000 of hygiene and food kits that were distributed during the month of Ramadan. Those groups were jointly identified by AAP and PDWSA. Furthermore, municipality of Nusirat was provided with 3000 liters of fuel for garbage collection trucks for municipality and 300 liter for the Palestinian Medical Center in Nusirat
The response was proactively designed by integrating the approach of gender lens and analysis to combat COVID-19. This integration aimed to mitigate the multifaceted effect of this crisis on them and ensure that humanitarian assistance effectively and equitably protects women, girls, men and boys and capitalizes on their respective capacities and benefits.
As the collective lockdown affects the current social gender roles, new dynamics were reinforced including loss of livelihoods under the lack of social protection in informal sector. As such, for those (namely women and girls) that already experience strict control over their movement, access to resources and general rights. The responsibility of maintaining the cleanliness of the household is also increasing burdens and negatively affecting the psycho-social status of women and girls as primary domestic caregivers. An increase in domestic violence is also being experienced as more people are confined to their homes.
Background Information
ActionAid
ActionAid is a global federation working for social justice and gender equality and eradicate poverty. ActionAid works worldwide to empower people living in poverty and exclusion with focus on women’s rights .ActionAid works directly and closely with communities, civil society organizations, women movements and social groups and movements and other allies to tackle root causes of poverty and oppression. ActionAid deliver grassroots programmes to utilize efforts of global struggle movements working for a just, fair and sustainable world. Based on human rights-based approach and women rights’ principles, ActionAid seeks to fairly re-distribute powers through solidarity, empowerment, awareness campaigns and creating alternatives to ensure that everybody enjoys the right to a life of dignity, and freedom from oppression.
ActionAid in Palestine (AAP) is a part of that federation which started its work in Palestine in 2007 to strengthen the resilience of Palestinian People as ActionAid believes that they should enjoy their rights to freedom, justice and self-determination. AAP implements a number of programs through its engagement with communities and women and youth groups seeking to empower them and enhance their influential civil and political participation to understand their rights and undertake collective activism to address the protracted rights violations resulting from the prolonged occupation of Palestine. AAP works simultaneously to enhance their leadership capacity and knowledge to practice their citizenship in holding authorities and other duty bearers to account.