The Contribution of Women to Peace and Reconciliation

services programmes to reduce poverty, increase health awareness and
fight environmental conditions that favour the spread of disease. The
environmental health programme monitors the quality of drinking water,
provides sanitation, and carries out rodent control in refugee camps.
Protecting victims of violence
As an organization working in Gaza in a chronically unstable environment,
UNRWA is continuously challenged by upsurges of violence. New
services such as mental health care, physiotherapy and rehabilitation
have been established to deal specifically with the consequences of protracted
violence and insecurity. UNRWA’s health programme is decentralized
and able to adapt rapidly to different security concerns and
logistical problems. Almost 1500 people were killed during Operation
Cast Lead, launched in the Gaza Strip between December 27, 2008 and
January 18 2009, including 358 children, more than 5300 were injured,
and some 60,000 housing units were demolished or damaged. Fifty-two
UNRWA installations were damaged in the fighting, including seven health
centres and the Agency’s Gaza field office. As a result of severe shelling,
some of UNRWA’s warehouses were destroyed. The estimated cost of
repairs was more than $3 million. The cost of replacing supplies, of
which medicines were a substantial part, required an extra $3.6 million.
During the conflict, UNRWA provided temporary shelter to over 50,000
Palestinians who sought refuge in the Agency’s schools. Although security
constraints severely limited the movement of staff, UNRWA continued
delivery of its health services, adjusting to the needs of displaced
people and to deterioration in local environmental health standards. The
Agency also continued its high levels of disease surveillance after the
conflict, making sure that no outbreaks took place among refugees in
the Gaza Strip, who make up 70% of the population.
UNRWA also has an extensive domestic violence protection programme,
focusing on prevention and protection, through awarenessrais
ing amongst community members and staff members, along with
referral pathways for domestic violence victims across UNRWA’s service
programmes, ensures that women who have experienced violence
receive a coordinated and appropriate response to their needs. The block -
ade has seen an increase in domestic violence in the Gaza Strip.
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