Reinforce the protection of the most affected and isolated communities by occupation-related violence, through MHPSS services at individual, family and community level. ltpgt



lt/pgtltpgtFollowing OCHA report, from the 7th to the 23rd of October, in West Bank 91 Palestinians have been killed and 1,696 have been injured by the Israeli forces, including at least 157 children. 28% of the injuries have been caused by live ammunition, representing an increase of eight times higher than the biweekly average number of such injuries between 1st January to 7th October 2023. Settler violence across the West Bank, especially in Palestinian communities near Israeli settlements, has been on the rise, reaching 113 settler attacks against Palestinians resulting in casualties or property damage. In terms of displacements, in the same period of October, at least 84 Palestinian households, comprising 545 people (50% children), have been displaced from 13 Bedouin communities in Area C. The core objectives of our proposal are centered on reinforcing the resilience and mental health well-being of the most vulnerable and isolated communities of the targeted area, with a specific emphasis on their protection from settler violence and military incursions    . The project aims to address the pressing needs of both individuals and communities grappling with movement restrictions and isolation, facilitating access to essential health services while concurrently bolstering the existing protection mechanisms.ltbrgtFamily and community support pays a pivotal role in the Palestinian society and need to be promotes and protected, especially in this period. Caregivers need assistance to enhance positive coping mechanisms that will positively impact their children's well-being. It is essential to incorporate the provision of knowledge and skills to help caregivers identify early warning signs of trauma, to provide support in emergencies, dealing with stress, etc. Furthermore, the escalating levels of violence affecting children are closely linked to the dire economic conditions faced by families and communities. This proposal is considered as a response to the current increase of family violence, including GBV, as an indirect effect of the prolonged violence.ltbrgtAccording to the report “Current Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Policies and Frameworks in Humanitarian Settings” and the UNICEF report: “A review of the humanitarian mental health and psychosocial needs and gaps in the West Bank and Gaza”, the implementation of MHPSS in this complex environment was found to present gaps and challenges. Moreover, our proposal identifies an equally critical component, drawn from our extensive experience and knowledge in the field. It is imperative to mitigate the psychological distress that plagues these communities and provide them with sustainable support systems. To accomplish this, our proposed response to the identified needs is based in approaching the services to Bedouin communities with access barriers to MHPSS services, by the introduction of an intervention led by a general physician trained in mhGAP. The community's trust in physicians facilitates greater access, for both, women and male, and stigma mitigation. ltbrgtThe project is designed to address short and long term needs of the communities in relation to access to protection and MHPSS services. In addition, the project is aiming to focus on awareness, knowledge and capacity building, counseling and mental health treatment that would last and help the communities to manage any future emergencies and crisis should they arise, prioritizing localized response through engaging local communities, CBOs, and different adult and family groups. The project takes into account long-lasting presence of MdM in Hebron, Ramallah, Jerusalem and East Jerusalem (EJ) and has been designed in consultation with Protection Cluster and in close coordination which will continue throughout the project implementation phase with actors present in the targeted communities to ensure complementarity and avoid any kind of duplication.ltbrgtlt/pgtltpgtlt/pgt