Back to Contents towards women and children. Health staff perceived a particular increase in psychological and physical violence, as well as denial of resources. The community indicated they would be most likely to seek GBV help and assistance from UNRWA health staff or from NGOs in general. In Gaza, the Health Department identified a total of 1,432 cases of GBV. 252 cases of GBV were identified through the hotlines established during the lockdown. 1,092 cases of GBV (psychological and physical violence, forced marriage, sexual abuse, rape) were identified and taken on by RSS legal counsellors. Support sessions were organised for women, aimed at awareness-raising and at encouraging possible GBV survivors to seek psychological assistance, and a GBV Manual was created and shared with women by health counsellors. Finally, Facebook and WhatsApp groups were created as support forums for women to connect with each other during the pandemic. […] In Lebanon, a total of only 53 GBV survivors were assisted in 2020. The limited number of cases can be attributed to the general underreporting of GBV, amongst other factors. In fact, women and girls in FGDs reported that violence within the home is being normalized, and that they would be unlikely to report violence out of fear of retaliation, losing their children, economic restrictions, or the stigma attached to divorce. However, women did report an increase in domestic violence amidst the pandemic, with negative effects on children at home. In FGDs, women told UNRWA that male family members were expressing their helplessness, frustration, and inability to fulfil their responsibilities through violence. They also reported an increase in inter-sibling violence and an increase in control by their fathers and brothers, resulting in limited movements and surveillance. Although the level of access to services varies between areas in Lebanon, there is a general lack of knowledge on UNRWA services amongst the refugee population and a lack of trust regarding the confidentiality of services provided inside the camps. Awareness-raising sessions on GBV and COVID-19 were conducted through WhatsApp for 1,344 women to strengthen resilience and increase knowledge on UNRWA services. In addition, remote awareness-raising sessions were organised for 399 men to discuss healthy and positive stress-management and prevent GBV.” (Source: UNRWA, “UNRWA Gender Equality Strategy 2016-2021: annual implementation report January-December 2020”, May 2021, p. 8-9) With reference to gender-based violence, UNRWA reported: “Risk factors including difficult socio-economic conditions, including overcrowded living conditions, lack of privacy and high levels of poverty, the limited control exercised by Lebanese authorities within Palestinian refugee camps and an environment characterized by insecurity and violence, contribute to a high prevalence of violence against women and children amongst the Palestine refugee community. Fear of retaliation or escalation of violence, as well as shame and stigma experienced by survivors, lack of confidentiality and limited availability of protective services within the camps, result in high levels of underreporting of gender-based violence (GBV), especially for domestic violence and sexual exploitation. Furthermore, the lack of formal legal authority within the camps has resulted in limited access to safety and justice for survivors of GBV and children at risk of violence. Based on GBV case management undertaken by UNRWA in Lebanon, between 2013 and 2018, the following statistics and key trends among reported GBV incidents have been identified: • • • 38 per cent of reported cases concern incidents of physical assault; 22 per cent of reported cases concern incidents of emotional and psychological abuse; 23 per cent of reported cases concern incidents of sexual violence, of which 7 per cent of cases concern rape. 65 per cent of reported sexual violence incidents were perpetrated against minors; 89 per cent of forced marriage incidents were perpetrated against minors and 43 per cent of all identified survivors were minors. Domestic violence, sexual violence (rape and sexual assault) and exploitation, as well as child marriage, were the most commonly reported incidents connected to the reported cases of emotional and physical abuse. In addition, GBV risk within the home has been exacerbated by COVID-19 related measures across refugee communities in Lebanon. 54 percent of women and girls interviewed for an inter-agency assessment reported observing an increased risk of GBV incidents in their households, such as emotional abuse, violence and denial of resources. Furthermore, UNRWA’s legal aid unit registered a significant increase in the number of family law cases related to domestic violence and child protection received during the lockdown period.” (Source: UNRWA: “Protection brief: Palestine refugees living in Lebanon”, September 2020, p. 3) 15. Particular hardships faced by specific profiles of stateless Palestinians 134