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The Contribution of Women to Peace and Reconciliation

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proved school health services, computerized data management, improve -<br />

ment <strong>of</strong> prescription practices, enhanced health management through<br />

health education, <strong>and</strong> longer patient consultation through more efficient<br />

use <strong>of</strong> resources.<br />

Assisting under-achieving children through in-depth health assessments<br />

Across the Gaza strip, psychological trauma, poverty <strong>and</strong> environmental<br />

degradation have had a negative impact on children’s physical <strong>and</strong> mental<br />

health. In order <strong>to</strong> assist those affected, UNRWA has established<br />

Special Education Needs Clinics in six <strong>of</strong> its health canters. It has identified<br />

pupils who have failed every subject in their exams, <strong>and</strong> provided<br />

them with a comprehensive physical <strong>and</strong> mental health assessment.<br />

<strong>The</strong> diagnoses have enabled UNRWA <strong>to</strong> immediately improve the daily<br />

lives <strong>of</strong> some pupils by providing hearing aids, reading glasses <strong>and</strong> treatment<br />

<strong>of</strong> other medical conditions. This initiative is funded by the Gaza<br />

Emergency Appeal.<br />

Offering psycho-social support <strong>to</strong> a population in need<br />

Many Palestinian refugees in Gaza suffer from anxiety, distress <strong>and</strong> depression.<br />

UNRWA has <strong>of</strong>fered support <strong>to</strong> a population in need by placing<br />

psycho-social counsellors in its schools where they support children<br />

whose problems includes lack or absence <strong>of</strong> motivation in schools, violence,<br />

fear <strong>and</strong> inability <strong>to</strong> concentrate. <strong>The</strong> Agency increased the scope<br />

<strong>of</strong> its psycho-social support, placing one counsellor in each health centre<br />

<strong>to</strong> assist the chronically ill, those with depression, <strong>and</strong> victims <strong>of</strong> violence.<br />

Relief <strong>and</strong> social services<br />

Direct relief <strong>and</strong> social services assistance remains critical <strong>to</strong> tens <strong>of</strong><br />

thous<strong>and</strong>s <strong>of</strong> refugee families in Gaza. <strong>The</strong> Agency works <strong>to</strong> alleviate<br />

their burdens <strong>and</strong> protect the most vulnerable. Food <strong>and</strong> cash assistance<br />

is based on needs determined through a poverty survey. Communitybased<br />

organizations specifically target women, children, youth, orphans<br />

<strong>and</strong> people with disabilities with social services <strong>of</strong>fers. UNRWA also<br />

oversees the Rehabilitation Centre for the Visually Impaired <strong>and</strong> its<br />

school.<br />

224

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