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UNRWA and ECHO: supporting Palestine refugees through protection programmes in the West Bank

30 March 2019

Palestine refugees have been living under Israeli military occupation in the West Bank for more than 50 years. Refugees are exposed to a number of protection threats linked to the occupation, including the risk of injury and death, the demolition of their homes, displacement and restrictions on freedom of movement.

UNRWA has a mandate to protect refugees and to advance their rights. The European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) has supported UNRWA to deliver on its protection mandate in the West Bank since 2000. With ECHO’s support in UNRWA is able to provide assistance to Palestine refugees who have been displaced. UNRWAs Crisis Intervention Unit (CIU) provides assistance to displaced refugees to get back on their feet after this shock, providing them with access to shelter, psychological assistance and referrals to address their needs. In the past 10 months, UNRWA has assisted 85 refugee families (over 300 individuals) following their displacement from different locations throughout the West Bank including East Jerusalem.

Following a series of demolitions in September 2018, UNRWA provided assistance to several families whose homes had been demolished on their land, by the Israeli authorities in Al-Walajah village near Bethlehem. This photo essay focuses on some of these families. The people residing in Al-Walajah village are mostly Palestine refugees from lands located in the vicinity of the village now situated within the unilaterally declared boundaries of Israel.

Background:

Last year ECHO allocated €4.7 million to families living in Area C and East Jerusalem for emergency response to demolitions, legal assistance, and material assistance for essential services. ECHO also finances humanitarian programmes that benefit Palestinian refugees living in Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. UNRWA and the European Union have maintained and strengthened a strategic partnership since 1971, based on human development, and the humanitarian and protection needs of Palestine refugees across the Middle East.

Ilham and two of her children, Talin (8) and Raghad (5) stand outside the twisted remains of their former house in al-Walajeh. The home was demolished by the Israeli authorities in September 2018. Shymaa who is a mother of five, is pictured here with two of her daughters, Bissan (11) and Jana (5). When their family home was demolished back in September 2018, Shymaa was caring for her two-month old son. When UNRWA met with Shymaa last year she expressed her feelings of helplessness and despair and shared fond memories from her now destroyed home: ”We used to all gather in the garden in our home, light up the barbeque grill and have fun all night.Part 1: Ahmad is seen here standing in what remains of his house in Al-Walajah village after its demolition by the Israeli authorities in September 2018. The lives of Ahmad, his wife Fida’ and their three children – Nabil (13), Mayar (12) and Mohammed (8) – were turned upside after the witnessed the demolition of their own home.Part 2: Although the damages were extensive, Ahmad’s home was not completely destroyed, and he and his wife made the difficult decision to remain in their home rather than abandon it. They preferred the dignity and stability of staying in their home, rather than to face the ordeal of displacement. EU humanitarian assistance allowed UNRWA to provide this family with a tailored response to address their needs, including by addressing the psychological impact of this event on their lives. The case management The remnants of Alaa and Tahani’s house in Al-Walajah village, where they lived with their three kids before it was demolished in September 2018.

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