“The COVID-19 pandemic and economic crisis has exposed vulnerable Palestine refugees, in particular women and children, to heightened protection-related risks, including Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and abuse, violence against children, and the isolation of the elderly and people with disabilities. The Agency will continue to work with refugee community members and women’s committee in Lebanon to prevent abuse and raise awareness on GBV and child protection and aim to address the links between mental health and violence in the community.”
(Source: UNRWA, “Syria, Lebanon and Jordan Emergency Appeal 2022”, 18 January 2022, p. 11) “mainstreaming gender in the COVID-19 response
This year, The Agency’s activities have been disrupted by the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Indeed, work became largely remote; training sessions, community-based activities and many services for Palestine refugees were taken online; and health centres and education facilities were closed down for a long period of time, following movement restrictions established by authorities in UNRWA fields of operation. In addition to the significant health risks the pandemic has imposed on everyone, COVID-19 has had a profound impact on women and girls in the region, including Palestine refugees. Rapid socio-economic assessments undertaken by UNRWA showed that the pandemic has led to increased pressure, duties and responsibilities for women within the household, and increased rates of unemployment have led to increased tensions within the home.”
(Source: UNRWA,“UNRWA Gender Equality Strategy 2016-2021: annual implementation report January-December 2020”, May 2021, p. 4)
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs indicated in its Emergency appeal of July 2020 about women and girls:
“Protection needs have increased for women and girls, refugees and migrants (including domestic workers), people with disabilities, older people and other vulnerable groups. Pyscho-social support needs have alarmingly increased for children, youth, women and men due to anxiety over the situation, limited livelihoods opportunities and overall desperation. There is significant documentation from the UN and the Government on the impact of COVID-19 on increasing gender-based violence, unpaid care work for all – with a disproportionate impact on women and girls and on women’s engagement in the labour market – with women leaving the labour market at higher rates than men. Further, according to the Inter-Agency SGBV Task Force assessment, 54 per cent of interviewed individuals reported observing an increase of harassment, violence or abuse against women and girls in the households and community [Impact of COVID-19 on the SGBV Situation in Lebanon. Inter-Agency SGBV Task Force Lebanon, May 2020]. The risk of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) may also be exacerbated, as evidenced in other contexts. Overall, there are increased risks in times of crisis, particularly for the most vulnerable. Meeting our commitments to Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) and Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) is therefore especially important
(Source: OCHA, “Lebanon COVID-19 Emergency Appeal (17 July 2020)”, July 2020, p. 5)
In their “Syria, Lebanon and Jordan Emergency Appeal 2022”, UNRWA wrote:
“The stress of this situation is further driving an increase in violence against children, intimate partner violence, and violence in the community as interpersonal disputes erupt into shootings.”
(Source: UNRWA, “Syria, Lebanon and Jordan Emergency Appeal 2022”, 18 January 2022, p. 16)