Palestine

Caritas Czech Republic began helping in Palestine in May 2015. The help focuses on high unemployment of women and young graduates, which is one of the main economic problems of the country. The Palestinian government depends on foreign aid (at least one third). This foreign aid is then delivered to half of the civil service. In cases where these foreign resources dwindle, economic crisis occurs. The main aim of Caritas Czech Republic is therefore to prepare the Palestinians to operate their own businesses and encourage self-employment.

Information about activities in Georgia in 2015 (both in English and Czech) here.

November 3, 2023 News

Acute fighting limits the possibility of providing essential humanitarian aid in Gaza, says Kateřina Velíšková from Caritas Czech Republic

The ongoing war between Israel and Hamas is drastically affecting the civilian population, especially in the Gaza Strip. It is facing an unprecedented humanitarian disaster. We spoke to Kateřina Velíšková, Regional Manager for the Middle East, about the long-term situation in Gaza, what is happening on the ground now and how Caritas is helping. Kateřina herself spent a year in Israel.

October 28, 2023 All news

Humanitarian disaster in Gaza. Caritas Czech Republic launches an appeal to help affected civilians

The war between Israel and Hamas has caused a humanitarian disaster for the civilian population of the Gaza Strip. In a closed area from which there is no escape and nowhere to hide, basic needs, including drinking water, food, medicine and electricity, are running out. Caritas Czech Republic has released funds from its emergency fund and is launching a collection to help affected civilians in the Gaza Strip. They urgently need immediate and safe access to basic humanitarian aid, including medical care. Caritas Jerusalem, which currently has 100 staff on the ground in Gaza, has long provided this assistance.

October 26, 2023 News

Diary from Gaza

"I walk more than a kilometre through a desert tunnel made of wires with automatic gates. Green light, we can go through. Red light, we wait. No one in sight, all visible signs of human presence seem to have disappeared. This place outside of time and space is called Erez: the border that connects Israel to Gaza and Gaza to Israel. A connecting line between two worlds," Rachel Felgines, working at Caritas Internationalis in the Middle East, described the situation in the Gaza Strip in 2016. Today, this crossing into Gaza is also closed.  Moreover, the escalation of the conflict from 7th of October has worsened the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

October 25, 2023 News

People in Gaza do not have drinking water, electricity or fuel. They are exhausted and traumatised, says Harout Bedrossian from Caritas Jerusalem

The consequences of the newly escalated conflict between Israel and Hamas are hitting the civilian population the hardest. The escalation of the conflict has worsened the already dire humanitarian situation in Gaza. We spoke about the current situation to Harout Bedrossian from Caritas Jerusalem, which has long been helping in the Gaza Strip and has 100 employees in Gaza.

October 24, 2023 News

Life in Gaza under the shadow of conflict

Since the escalation of violence on 7 October 2023, more than 5,000 people have lost their lives and 15,000 others have been injured in Gaza. Numerous residents have been forced to seek refuge in hospitals, UNRWA facilities, and churches. The shortage of electricity, water, and food supplies, especially for hospitals, has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis. We are publishing an article that our colleagues at Caritas Jerusalem prepared despite the obstacles the conflict has caused them.

October 23, 2023 News

What life in the Gaza Strip looks like

Gaza, a strip of isolated land smaller than Prague, is home to 2.3 million people. It is one of the most densely populated areas on the planet - and in a confined space. The Gaza Strip has been described as an "open-air prison", its inhabitants have long been deprived of basic needs, which are constantly growing. What is life like in Gaza, what do its inhabitants face and how has the recent escalation of the conflict worsened the situation?

October 17, 2023 All news

War between Israel and Hamas. Gaza faces an unprecedented humanitarian disaster

The war between Israel and Hamas is a humanitarian disaster for the civilian population of the Gaza Strip. In this closed area without escape, basic needs, including drinking water, are running out. In addition, Israel has called for over a million residents of northern Gaza to leave their homes. Caritas Jerusalem has long been active in Gaza.

December 26, 2016 Palestine

In Palestine, young people learn how to apply for a job

Final training of Palestinian students took place at the universities in Bethlehem and Birzeit in December. During a six week period, young people obtained the necessary skills for stepping out of the academic world in order to successfully enter the labour market.

December 21, 2016 Palestine

Sewing for a living helps Palestinian women support their families

"First of all, I will sew headbands for children," revealed Samabar, mother of six children – five girls and one boy. They live together with her niece in Ramallah, where Samahar is studying and is currently preparing for the biannual exams.

November 8, 2016 Palestine

Career training focused on getting a job is happening at Palestinian universities

On Saturday 8 October 2016, a course began at Bethlehem University designed for its students and graduates, where young Palestinians will gradually acquire key skills for getting a job. They will learn how to behave at a job interview, gain experience needed for a successful life and learn about challenges that could arise in the working process.