Palestine

The mandate of HI in Gaza and throughout the Palestinian territories is to improve the daily lives of people with disabilities and individuals experiencing extreme hardship.

Group of HI volunteers at a table greeting patrons, one in a wheelchair.

HI's information stand at a mine awareness event in Gaza. | © Tom Shelton / HI

Our actions

Humanity & Inclusion has been working in Palestine since 1996 with a main mandate to support organizations run by and for people with disabilities. In 1999, the organization launched an education initiative to raise awareness of the risks of landmines and other explosive remnants of war. Working alongside local partners, HI has led development initiatives including functional rehabilitation, psychosocial support, access to education and adaptation of homes for people with disabilities.

Ongoing projects include improving access to basic services including rehabilitation and psychosocial support for people with disabilities. HI supports the inclusion of children with disabilities in mainstream schools. The association also leads a program to better include people with disabilities in the contingency plans in case of crisis.

The association also supports poor households living with a person with disabilities affected by COVID-19 crisis through temporary food assistance and sustainable economic recovery.

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Background

Map of HI's interventions in Palestinian territories

Faced with an ongoing crisis with Israel and a long-standing blockade in the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian people, including people with disabilities, get by as best they can.

The living conditions in the occupied Palestinian territories remain very tense and Palestinians living in the Gaza strip and the West Bank are particularly vulnerable. The already precarious socio-economic situation heavily deteriorated since the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to a lack of employment opportunities and restrictions limiting the movement of goods and people, the unemployment rate has skyrocketed. With service sectors' and non-governmental organizations' resources stretched thin, Palestinians are struggling to meet their basic needs, especially people with disabilities who are often overlooked and lack proper representation in development and relief efforts.

In the Gaza Strip, resurgences of violence in 2018-2019 and in May 2021 have led to further isolation, increasing difficulties to access care and employment opportunities.

People with disabilities have to contend with discrimination at every level of society, in particular in the areas of education and employment. This situation is especially problematic for women with disabilities and mothers of children with disabilities.

Number of HI staff members: 27

Program launch date: 1996