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Source: United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)	6 November 2014

• A number of security incidents were reported during the past two weeks, including in East Jerusalem were tensions are rising. A rocket was fired from Gaza and, two attacks reported in East Jerusalem
• Following separate security incidents, Egypt closed the Rafah crossing and Israel the Erez and Kerem Shalom crossings. Israel opened the crossings after two days.
• Heavy rains caused flooding in Khuzza'a temporary camp and aggravated the already dire humanitarian situation of families living in partially damaged buildings. The WASH Cluster winter response will include measures to prevent, mitigate and respond to seasonal flooding including cleaning and procurement of equipment and tools. Education Cluster response includes prepositioning of emergency educational material, provision of warm jackets and boots as well as disaster risk reduction training for children and teachers in flood prone areas. Child protection will provide blankets, sleeping mats and winter track suits and family centres are prepared for emergency response. UNICEF's Health and Nutrition team will replenish and allocate essential drugs related to children illnesses and injuries, support MOH with mobile teams and monitor the communicable disease outbreaks and vaccination coverage.
• On 28 October, in collaboration with WFP and Oxfam, UNICEF launched the E-voucher programme for the provision of school uniforms and shoes to children most affected by the conflict. The first phase of the programme targeting 2,722 households has already reached approximately 2,759 children attending government schools.
• In its effort to ensure access of children to safe learning environments, UNICEF in collaboration with ACF have completed repairs on 26 government schools.
• A UNICEF shipment of 65,429 single dose vials of Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) vaccine were received by the MoH on 5 November.

Situation Overview

• Security incidents included a rocket fired at Israel from East of Ash-Shujaiyeh and test rocket fire in Gaza, north of Gaza City, at the sea from west of Nuseirat Camp and west of Gaza City. IDF warning fire continued to be carried out towards Palestinian boats west of Rafah, Nuseirat Camp, Beit Lahia, Gaza City and Khan Younis.
• The situation in Jerusalem remains tense. A prominent right wing Israeli activist was shot and injured on 29 October; the Palestinian suspect in the shooting was shot dead by ISF during a search operation in Abu Tor, East Jerusalem. Israeli authorities took the rare step of closing the al-Aqsa compound for a day, and announced access restrictions to the Al Aqsa Mosque, a decision followed by clashes in East Jerusalem. On 5 November, a Palestinian rammed a vehicle into a light rail station, killing one ISF personnel and injuring eleven; the driver was shot dead. A similar incident had taken place on 22 October, resulting in the death of a three-month old baby and of a young woman.
• Early analysis of the data on grave violations against Israeli and Palestinian children indicates that there has already been a sharp increase in the number of children killed in the third quarter of 2014 in East Jerusalem (two children killed and 67 injured). Media also report numerous arrests of children by Israeli Security Forces. The Government of Israel announced it would pass a law increasing to 20 years the maximum penalty for people (including children) throwing stones at cars in Israel and East Jerusalem. This maximum penalty was already enforced for Palestinian children in the West Bank (excluding East Jerusalem).
• Security incidents lead to closures of crossings to Gaza. Egypt closed the Rafah crossing on 26 October in response to a car bomb in Northern Sinai that killed 28 Egyptian Security Officials. Following a rocket from Gaza, Israel closed the Erez and Kerem Shalom crossings. Erez and Kerem Shalom were opened two days later but Rafah crossing remains closed. The recurrent security incidents, instability and related restrictions undermine both the psychosocial and physical wellbeing of children.
• The United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process confirmed on 4 November the commencement of the operation of the temporary Gaza reconstruction mechanism, targeting some 60,000 shelters in need of repair. The mechanism is led by the Palestinian Government of National Consensus, working through Gaza's private sector, and to date 700 beneficiaries have been able to buy construction material to start rehabilitating their homes. An estimated 2,400 children will benefit from the home repairs.
• Heavy rains caused flooding in Khuzza'a camp in southern Gaza and aggravated the already poor situation of families living in partially damaged buildings. An expected cold spell this winter could further worsen the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, especially for the most vulnerable children. In preparation UNICEF continues its winterization efforts. The WASH cluster winter response will include measures to prevent, mitigate and respond to seasonal flooding, including cleaning and procurement of equipment and tools. Education cluster response includes prepositioning of emergency educational material, provision of warm jackets and boots as well as disaster risk reduction training for children and teachers in flood prone areas. UNICEF Child protection will provide blankets, sleeping mats and winter track suits and family centres are prepared for emergency. UNICEF's Health and Nutrition will replenish and allocate essential drugs related to children illnesses and injuries, support MOH with mobile teams and monitor the communicable disease outbreaks and vaccination coverage.
• The media reported that 20,000 civil workers in Gaza went on strike on 4 November to press for payment of salaries which have not been paid since the Unity Government took over in 2007.

Education and Adolescents

• In collaboration with WFP and Oxfam, UNICEF used 1 the E-voucher programme for the provision of school uniforms and shoes to children most affected by the conflict. The first phase of the programme targeting 2,722 households has reached 1609 households benefitting approximately 2,759 children attending government schools. The second phase of the I programme, targeting additional 4,300 households, will commence in the next two weeks.
• In collaboration with ACF, UNICEF Education and WASH sections have completed repairs on 26 of government schools. In its effort to ensure access children to safe learning environments is continuing repair and rehabilitate 18 more schools, focusing in particular on building access ramps, WASH and toilet facilities for children with disabilities, wall painting and replacement of doors and windows.
• During the reporting period 3,337 adolescents and children participated in recreational activities supported by TAMER and MA'AN. In total, UNICEF through partners, MA'AN, Tamer and Al Nayzak, has reached 74,714 adolescents and children (53% females) in 19 government shelters, 21 community-based organizations, and 119 schools located in Gaza. Recreational, stress relief activities, and life-skill development activities were provided to help adolescents and children better cope with the recurrent crises.
• Al Nayzak, in close cooperation with MoEHE and with the support of UNICEF, continue to provide weekly extracurricular education and life skills training to 3,138 adolescents in 25 schools using innovative and interactive tools.
• TAMER and MAAN, with support from UNICEF, are providing 21st century skills development sessions to 664 adolescents including trainings on communication and critical/creative thinking. The adolescents will plan, lead and implement initiatives to support their communities and peers, and work as agents of positive change in their society.

• UNICEF and Palestinian Centre for Democracy and Conflict Resolution reached 4,400 children (1,973 girls and 2,427 boys) with psychosocial support in the reporting period. In total 9,572 children have received psychosocial support since 15 September.
• 68 children (41 girls and 27 boys) were reached through the Sawa helpline. Sawa has provided support to 1,520 children (862 girls and 658 boys) in total.
• 10 Family Centers are currently serving 750 children (434 girls and 316 boys) between the ages 6-18, with protection services.

• UNICEF through partner GVC continued to deliver safe drinking water to affected populations in the Middle Area; in this reporting period 2,902 cubic meters were delivered benefitting 71,000 people. In total 8,721 cubic meters have been supplied.
• The UNICEF-led WASH cluster, carried out an assessment of Khuzza'a caravan camp, currently housing 800 people, following heavy rains, and found that houses and septic tanks were flooded, creating risk of electrical short circuits. In response, UNICEF will provide immediate support in the form of drainage materials, sand barriers and sand bags. Additional identified needs included: NFIs and hygiene promotion, raised concrete platforms, repairs to electrical wiring, improvement of drainage within the camp, creation of CFS, improvement of sanitation and camp management support. The WASH Cluster will coordinate the implementation of the additional work needed.

• During the reporting period, breastfeeding awareness-raising sessions were conducted for 2,127 mothers by UNICEF-supported MoH Community Health Workers (CHWs). In total 10,594 mothers in shelters and with host families have benefitted to date.
• A shipment of 65,429 single dose vials of Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) vaccine were received by the MoH on 5 November. Two additional shipments of Inactive Polio Vaccine and Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) vaccination are in process.
• The MoH organized 4 Expanded Programme of Immunization (EPI) training workshops for 100 health workers. All 10 EPI training workshop have now been completed, training a total of 250 health workers.
• UNICEF is funding the MoH (CHWs) to conduct outreach activities in collective shelters. In the past two weeks, 1,785 women and 77 children participated in awareness sessions on communicable diseases in collective shelters and with host families. To date 1,710 men, 10,261 women and 3,595 children have participated in the sessions.
• MoH and Near East Council of Churches (NECC) provided 509 women with Post Natal care through home visits this week. In total 2,622 women with high risk pregnancies have benefitted from home visits.

Funding

Next SitRep: 20 November 2014

SóIrún Maria Olafsdóttir, M&E and Gender Specialist, UNICEF, SoP, Jerusalem, Phone: +972 (0)2 584 0410,
mail: smolafsdottir@unicef.org, http://www.unicef.org/oPt/,
https://www.facebook.com/unicefstateofpalestine

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