An Agency for the Palestinians?

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jalal Al Husseini
Keyword(s):  
Near East ◽  
Gaza Strip ◽  
The Political ◽  
Host Countries ◽  
Palestinian Refugees ◽  
Assistance Programs ◽  
Political Dimensions ◽  
The Gaza Strip ◽  
A Site ◽  
The Impact

This chapter examines the interplay between humanitarian/developmental concerns of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and the political interests of the donors, host countries, and the refugees themselves. UNRWA has been tasked to provide educational, medical, social and relief, microfinance, and camp upgrading services to the “Palestine refugees” in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the Gaza Strip, and the West Bank. The chapter first considers the dynamics behind the creation and the evolution of UNRWA's mandate in terms of institutional and operational development, along with the impact of its assistance programs. It then discusses the political dimensions attached to the concepts of community participation and of protection that UNRWA has recently mainstreamed across its various activities. It also analyzes the impact of UNRWA's roles on the Palestinian refugees and the overall Near East context. The chapter suggests that UNRWA has become a site of conflicting claims its staff has had to reconcile for the sake of preserving the delivery of humanitarian assistance.

scholarly journals Assessment of Physicians’ Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Smoking Cessation Management in the Gaza Strip

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Smoking Cessation ◽  
Gaza Strip ◽  
Smoking Habit ◽  
Public Spaces ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Attitudes And Practices ◽  
Palestinian Territories ◽  
The Gaza Strip ◽  
The Impact

Background: Despite its negative effects, approximately 23% of Palestinians (≥ 18 years) smoke cigarettes. Studies have shown physicians to be an important channel for smoking cessation intervention. This investigation examines physicians’ smoking-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors in the Gaza strip (Palestinian Territories). Methods and Findings: A convenience sample of 154 physicians in medical and surgical units took part in this investigation (87.7% response rate). The data show that 37.8% of physicians in Gaza smoke, and most of them about 72% smoke in the hospital’s public spaces, thereby implicitly giving public approval for smoking. While 82.4% reported that they advise patients who smoke to stop, the majority (59%) also believe that their own smoking habits negatively influence the impact of that advice. Unfortunately, our survey showed that physicians’ knowledge levels towards smoking addiction and management were lower than expected (e.g. only 34% knew that nicotine dependence is a psychiatric disorder that necessitates treatment). The physicians in this study believed that the primary barriers to failure of their patients’ smoking cessation were the perceived lack of will (81.3%), and the strength of patients’ addiction (67.9%). Moreover, (61%) of physicians did not spend enough time to convince their patients to quit smoking. Conclusion: Smoking is common among Gaza-strip physicians, and unfortunately, most of them smoke in the hospital’s public spaces. Many obstacles face the smoking cessation program that some physicians linked it to patients, and others linked it to the health-care system. Furthermore, smokers in Gaza receive poor care regarding assessment, referral, and management of their smoking habit.

The Politics of International Aid to the Gaza Strip

2012 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 32-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tamer Qarmout ◽  
Daniel Béland
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
Good Governance ◽  
Gaza Strip ◽  
Humanitarian Aid ◽  
International Aid ◽  
The Political ◽  
Palestinian Authority ◽  
Legislative Council ◽  
Political Interests ◽  
The Gaza Strip

International aid to the Palestinian Authority is conditioned in part on democratization and good governance. However, since Hamas's victory in the 2006 Palestinian Legislative Council elections and its takeover of the Gaza Strip, aid agencies have supported the international boycott of the Hamas government. This article argues that aid agencies, by operating in Gaza while boycotting its government, subvert their mandates and serve the political interests of donors and the PA rather than the humanitarian and development needs of Gazans. As a consequence, assistance has, inadvertently and unintentionally, increased Gazans' dependence on humanitarian aid, impeded economic development, and enabled Israel to maintain its occupation and the blockade of Gaza.

Climate change and its impact on domestic water consumption in Sub-urban regions in the Gaza Strip

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahdy Jarboo ◽  
Husam Al-Najar
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Water Consumption ◽  
Gaza Strip ◽  
Climate Change Scenarios ◽  
Domestic Water ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Suburban Areas ◽  
Domestic Water Consumption ◽  
The Gaza Strip ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – This paper aims to identify the priorities on water sector planning. The priorities are identified by comparing the climate change impact on water consumption and the impact of using domestic water illegally to irrigate the urban agricultural holdings in suburban areas. Design/methodology/approach – Metered water consumption in summer and winter in both urban and suburban areas was studied in Rafah city. A backward chronological linear model of climate change (precipitation and temperature) influence on water consumption was developed using software STATISTICA 10. The developed statistical relation was used to predict the impact of various climate change scenarios for domestic water consumption. Hence, four climate change scenarios were hypothesized – an increase in temperature by 1 and 20°C and a reduction in the rainfall by 10 and 20 per cent, respectively. Findings – The most influential climate change scenario was the increase of temperature by 20°C, which caused an increase of 1.4 per cent on the average domestic water consumption compared to the current value. The hypothesized reduction of 20 per cent in precipitation caused a negligible increase in water consumption by 0.1 per cent from the current value. Urban agriculture and current practice of using municipal water to irrigate cultivated urban holdings have a significant negative influence on domestic water consumption. The aforementioned practice led to a high percentage of unaccounted for water (UFW) of 33, 38 and 45 per cent for the years 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively. Practical implications – The concerned decision-makers should consider the right track in prioritizing dilemmas for planning water sector in suburban areas. Originality/value – This research could be considered the first of its kind because impacts of urban agriculture and climate change on domestic water consumption have never been previously considered in the Gaza Strip.

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