2017 ME073 PS4002 Growing up in No Man’s Land | Protecting Children in Area C

The Oslo accords of the 1990s saw the West Bank divided into Areas A, B, and C. Areas A and B contained the highest density of Palestinian residents, while Area C contained the most land – 60% of the entire West Bank. The land comprising Area C, and its residents, remained under civil and military control of Israel. The number of Israeli settlers moving into Area C has quadrupled, and shows no sign of slowing - the 300,000 Palestinians living in Area C are now outnumbered by Israeli settlers. Those still residing within Area C live under constant threat of home demolitions and displacement, and without permission to use the land for traditional herding and agriculture practices many are dependent on humanitarian aid for survival. For the children of Area C, this translates to a life of marginalisation, worry, and vulnerability. Their childhood is marked by poverty and lack of opportunities, poor nutrition and ill-health, limited access to health and education services in their areas, and fear of harassment while travelling to more distant services. Many experience frequent displacement and constant fear of forced transfer, demolition of their homes and schools, or violence from neighbouring settlements. In the absence of other opportunities, children resort to physical labour in the neighbouring Israeli settlements, sometimes experience child-labour related illness and disability as a result.