Palestinian Territories

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In Palestine, Handicap International works towards providing support to local associations working in the field of rehabilitation and psychosocial support:capacity building of local staff (through training and accompaniment), management assistance and financial support.

CONTEXT
2003 was a year of contradictions and ambivalence: violence and bloodshed were rife, but a few initiatives were made in an attempt to solve this 50-year conflict (i.e. the “Road Map” presented by the “Quartet” of the United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations, the Saudi initiative launched during the Arab summit in Beirut, and the Geneva Accord negotiated by prominent Israelis and Palestinians led by Y. Beilin and Y. Rabbo). These initiatives came from different personalities and horizons but still didn’t lead to any accepted solutions by the Israeli and Palestinian governments.

In Palestine, the terror continues: land occupation by the Israeli occupation forces, curfews imposed on certain villages of the West Bank, assassinations of Palestinian political leaders and attacks by armed Palestinian groups targeting the Israeli civilian population. The wall built by Sharon’s government intends to separate Israel from the West Bank, penetrating several kilometres into Palestinian Territories.
The humanitarian situation is getting worse every day.

BACKGROUND
In 1996, Handicap International started its mission in the Palestinian Territories by participating in the Palestine Priority Programme, funded by the French Foreign Ministry. Its goals were:

• support for the General Union for Disabled Palestinians (GUDP)
• assistance in the implementation of national policy for people with disabilities
• support for the Palestinian Social Affairs Ministry in the drawing up of a directory of care services for people with disabilities
• endowments in the form of equipment and documentation for the Union of Palestine’s Medical Rehabilitation Centre (UPMRC).

From 1998 to 1999, with the financial support of ECHO (Humanitarian Aid Office of the European Commission), Handicap International provided support (technical aids, equipment, training, etc.) to the five reference centres that provide services for disabled people (Bethlehem Arab Society, Abu Raya, Princess Basma, El Wafa and the Society for the Physically Disabled).

In 1999, Handicap International evaluated the wheelchair production workshops, in collaboration with the Development Resource Centre. We also carried out a study of the level of user satisfaction vis-a-vis care centres for the disabled, with the aid of the Development Study Programme and Birzeit University. The same year, we supported a mine risk education programme, with the help of Defence Children International.

In 2000 and 2001, Handicap International, in partnership with the Ministry of Health, renovated the women’s ward of the Bethlehem Psychiatric Hospital and trained the nurses in improving patient care.

In 2002, the association finalised the printing of the directory compiling all services existing in Palestine for people with disabilities. The Ministry of Social Affairs hosts the directory’s website.

In November 2001, Handicap International, in collaboration with the El Wafa Rehabiliation Hospital, created a community rehabilitation outreach team which provides home care, in the south of the Gaza strip, to people with disabilities or injured during the Intifada. 

ACTIVITIES
In 2004, Handicap International will continue to support the El Wafa medical rehabilitation outreach project in the Khan Younes city and surrounding villages.

A partnership with Guidance and Training Center (GTC), located in Bethlehem, will be launched, with the financial support of Chaîne du bonheur (Swiss agency). GTC provides psychological assistance to Palestinian refugee children affected by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Moreover, training actions will be implemented for physiotherapists and medical personnel in at least six rehabilitation centres.

PUBLIC TARGETED
Beneficiaries
– The injured and disabled people of the occupied Palestinian Territories.
– The children and mothers in need of psychological support in Bethlehem.

Partners
– El Wafa medical rehabilitation hospital in Gaza.
– Guidance and Training Centre in Bethlehem.
– Rehabilitation centres.

CONTACTS
In Jordan (Middle East Regional Office)
Anne-Sophie Trujillo, field programme director.
P.O. BOX 9767 – Amman 11191.
Tel: + 962 (0) 6 46 28 513
Fax: + 962 (0) 6 46 28 514
E-mail: himideast2@link.net.jo