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Operational Context Operational context The current political situation in the West Bank remains uncertain following the recent decision by the Israeli government to suspend the US-led negotiations at the end of April, and the announcement of the formation of a Palestinian national consensus government. While it has garnered public support in the West Bank, the long-term implications of this development remain to be seen, with potential implications for UNRWA operations. Adding to the atmosphere of political uncertainty, the West Bank economy continues to be affected by the ongoing Israeli occupation and associated restrictions, as the Palestinian government faces continuing financial challenges, linked to its reliance on donors and its inability to pay state debts. The economic stagnation has also been exacerbated by measures taken by the Israeli authorities as a response to the Palestinian Authority (PA) accession to key international human rights treaties and conventions in early April as well as the implementation of the reconciliation agreements. Palestine refugees, continue to be the hardest hit by the economic situation. Refugees in the West Bankcontinue to suffer from higher rates of unemployment than non-refugees and rates of food insecurity remain high among refugees, especially those living in refugee camps. In the months leading up to the April 29th deadline for Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, tension increased in the West Bank, especially in the refugee camps. Some of this tension may have stemmed from a significant sense of uncertainty among the refugee community surrounding the final status of Palestine refugees. Moreover, an increase in the frequency and severity of ISF operations in camps coupled with a unstable economic situation has created a general environment of insecurity, which has in turn been a catalyst for a rise in security incidents in the camps. Discontent within the refugee community in the West Bank was further exacerbated by the open strike led by the UNRWA Area Staff Union (ASU) which resulted in the closure of all UNRWA installations and the suspension of virtually all UNRWA activities, including critical service delivery, in the West Bank for 66 days. After extensive negotiations supported by various external actors including the Office of the President of the State of Palestine and the Office of the Prime Minister, an agreement was reached between the ASU and UNRWA which resulted in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on key points of negotiation and their implementation. UNRWA and the ASU have continued to work towards the implementation of this MoU, and discussion has continued around key issues of concern to staff such as cost of living and pay policy. UNRWA has been monitoring with concern recent steps taken by the Israeli authorities to advance plans to transfer Palestinian Bedouin communities in Area C, the majority of whom are Palestine refugees. Specifically, on 27th April 2014, the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) made a presentation to the Subcommittee on Judea and Samaria of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee regarding a comprehensive initiative to transfer Bedouin communities residing in the rural areas of Area C of the West Bank to Israeli Civil Administration (ICA) planned “townships”, namely Al Jabal, Nweima and Fasayil. The communities targeted for transfer include those located in the E1 and Ma’ale Adumim areas, which are slated for further Israeli settlement development. In addition, the ICA appears in recent months to be intensifying measures that are displacing or threatening to displace many of the Bedouin communities targeted for transfer. In addition to demolitions, UNRWA has recently noted eviction orders as well as seizure orders used against Bedouin residences and livelihood structures in these communities. When viewed in light of the planned transfer of these same communities to ICA planned ‘townships’, these displacement measures appear to be designed to support the implementation of the transfer. UNRWA has written to the Israeli authorities to express its concern and to request that any initiatives or plans that may result in forcible transfer and forced evictions be ceased, and has met with international organizations and key donors to discuss possible advocacy measures. Furthermore, since the beginning of 2013, UNRWA has observed a sharp increase in the number of Palestine refugees killed and injured during law enforcement activities carried out by Israeli security forces (ISF), especially in and around the densely populated refugee camps. In 2013, 17 Palestine refugees, including one UNRWA staff member, were killed by ISF in the West Bank, compared to none in 2012. UNRWA has observed a continuation of these trends in 2014: to date, seven Palestine refugees have been killed by ISF. Most recently, two minors including one refugee, were shot and killed on Nakba day. Similarly, there has also been a sharp increase in the number of refugees injured by live ammunition in 2014, with at least 43 refugee injuries reported to date. All but one of these injuries occurred in or around camps (compared to 10 over the same period last year). Accomplishments Following the successful completion of the Emergency Appeal (EA) Transition in 2013, the EA Unit implemented internal reforms to ensure maximum impact, efficiency and coverage of the programs. UNRWA has been successful in safeguarding its Health Programme, ensuring that its primary health care and tertiary services are independent of humanitarian funds. A new approach in addressing food insecurity resulted in the organization of cash-for-work activities inside camps and the successful piloting of the Food Voucher Program in partnership with World Food Programme (WFP), to support food insecure refugees outside of the camps. Thus far, the pilot has been implemented in the northern and central West Bank and has benefited 17,500 individuals. The vouchers have been well received and feedback has been positive. Finally, 345 Palestine refugees have received emergency cash assistance through UNRWA’s Crisis Intervention programme which responds to administrative demolitions and damages caused by law enforcement operations. In 2014, the EA continues to support humanitarian interventions including Mobile Health Clinics, Community Mental Health programs in Bedouin Communities, and Protection and Operation Support Office activities. As part of an Agency-wide reform in Relief and Social Services, UNRWA has implemented changes in its social assistance programmes which aim at transitioning from status-based to a needs-based approach to ensure that those most in need receive assistance. UNRWA has completed the transition to the Social Safety Net Program, which targets the poorest refugees through a proxy means testing formula similar to that used by the Ministry of Social Affairs. Throughout this transition, UNRWA has ensured that the amount of assistance given and the number of refugees receiving assistance has not been impacted. Throughout 2014, UNRWA will provide quarterly SSN assistance to an average of 36,129 beneficiaries. 2 In the health sector, UNRWA has expanded the Family Health Team (FHT) approach to 18 health centres and the transition to the FHT is projected to be completed by 2015 when all 42 health points will be implementing the FHT approach. The new E-health system has been implemented in four of these clinics, enhancing continuity of care and patient management while also improving data collection and planning within the programme. By the end of 2014, it is expected that E-health will be implemented in 19 health centres. The Family and Child Protection Programme, including the Gender Based Violence referral system, is currently functioning in 18 localities. The referral system for child victims of domestic abuse, violence and neglect is being piloted in these locations in coordination with the Education Programme. In addition, UNRWA has made progress in the continued reform and restructuring of Qalqilya hospital, including carrying out a study of the hospital management structure. UNRWA is also implementing the Agency-wide education reform agenda in the West Bank. UNRWA schools participating in the School Based Teacher Development Programme and the principal training programme ‘Leading for the Future’ have completed half of the required modules while the training module on human rights is going forward for all teachers with 43 training workshops having taken place in 2014. In addition, the school year recovery plan has been successfully implemented to compensate UNRWA students for school days lost during the strike. Progress also has been made on projects funded by the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) approved in 2012. Major reconstruction/rehabilitation projects at Ein Sultan Co-Ed School, Arroub Boys’ School, Balata Boys’ School No. 2, and Hebron Health Center are proceeding well in spite of delays incurred as a result of the industrial action by the ASU between December 2013 and February 2014, during which time work had to be halted as the Agency could not provide site supervision. All major infrastructure projects under Package I will be finished before the end of 2014. In addition, the shelter programme funded under Package I is progressing quickly: to date, 398 shelters have been rehabilitated using a self-help approach and work is ongoing on another 50. Work is ongoing to reconstruct an additional 135 shelters; the first shelters will be finished in July and all shelter reconstruction will be finished before the end of 2014. Building on the first package of projects SFD approved a second package of projects for the West Bank in September 2013. The projects funded under Package II include the reconstruction of Fawwar Health Center and Aqbat Jaber Health Center, as well as a major training and reconstruction package for Kalandia Training Center and Ramallah Women Training Center. A donation from the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) will cover the reconstruction of the Qalqilia Girls’ School. The total value of all projects is US$ 9.5 million, of which US$ 2 million is from the IDB.
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