Since October, NGOs operating in the Occupied Palestinian Territories have been forced to navigate extreme risk in Gaza and growing violence in the West Bank as they address unprecedented needs. It has become increasingly difficult for NGOs to stay and deliver amidst intense attacks, mass displacement, and widespread destruction of infrastructure.
The threats to aid workers are exceptional. As of March 2024, at least 162 UN staff have been killed (UNRWA), the highest number of aid workers killed in conflict this century. The humanitarian situation is worsening by the day, compounding existing threats. Alongside direct threats, NGOs face substantial bureaucratic and administrative impediments that continue to hamper NGO response and risk management. The need for safety is not limited to Gaza. Whilst NGOs have historically enjoyed better access outside of Gaza, the West Bank was already experiencing record levels of violence before 7 October. The conflict overspill has led to increased attacks in the West Bank, harming aid provision and access.
Establishing Safety and Access Services
This is when coordination saves lives. In response to universal demand from the aid community, INSO has deployed a team to Amman to provide reporting, analysis, coordination and preparedness services. Concurrently, INSO is exploring options to establish a closer presence to NGOs in Gaza and the West Bank. Within a week of establishing services, 36 humanitarian partners have joined INSO’s growing network of aid agencies to mutually support safety and access services. We continue to closely coordinate with the NGO forum (AIDA), and UN partners (OCHA, DSS), to ensure a relevant and effective response.
“INSO’s services will provide an important baseline for humanitarian coordination where NGOs face high-level impediments from state actors” says Scott Bohlinger, Regional Director for the Middle East and Central Asia.
The collation, analysis, and dissemination of information through INSO’s CHDC database is allowing NGOs to track security incidents far faster, improving NGOs’ awareness of collective safety and access challenges, alongside the alignment of mitigation measures and risks in both Gaza and the West Bank. Additionally, working alongside AIDA and UNDSS, weekly/monthly roundtables will encourage information sharing between UN agencies, LNGOs and INGOs and help substantiate assessments of ongoing safety and access challenges.
Register Today
If you are an NGO based in the Occupied Palestinian Territories in need of INSO’s free safety and access services, please register with us via this page or email us at info@pal.ngosafety.org.
About INSO
INSO provides analysis and advice to NGOs operating in insecure and conflict affected countries. We are grateful for the support of The European Commission (ECHO), USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, Global Affairs Canada, Royal Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway, United Nations’ Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Le Gouvernement du Grand-Duché du Luxembourg and the Swedish International Development Agency (Sida).