Norwac sitt humanitære bistandsarbeid i Gaza. Langsiktighet og nødhjelp 1994-2009

Abstract

This master thesis examines how the Palestinian political context affected the Norwegian humanitarian organization Norwac’s activities and projects in Gaza during the time period of 1994 until 2009. Through Norwac’s own applications and reports, combined with literature about the Palestinian political context, this master thesis explores how the signing of the historic “Declaration of Principles’ between the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) and the Israelis, and the establishment of the Palestinian Interim Self-Government in 1994, changed the way Norwac worked in the Palestinian Territories. Historically, Norwac had cooperated with different private Palestinian organizations, but after the signing of the declaration, Norwac chose to establish relations with the Palestinian Ministry of Health going forward. After the examinations of how closed borders, clashes between the Palestinians and the Israelis, combined with the increase of moving restrictions affected Norwac’s projects in the late 1990s, the Palestinian Uprising unfolded in the 2000s. Norwac had to put their health education- projects aside, and their humanitarian aid was now focused on support towards the Palestinian Red Crescent Society and the Palestinian Ministry of Health. Norwac provided the Palestinian health sector with medical aid, such as medicines, maintenance and repairs, before they shifted their focus back to education for the Palestinian health workers. When Hamas won the elections in the Palestinian Territories in 2006, the international community reacted by pulling out as donors to the Palestinian self-government. Both USA and Israel refused to cooperate with the Islamist Movement, and Gaza was left without funds to provide sufficient health care to its residents. In this part of the analysis, this master thesis shows how Norwac managed to get the official government in Ramallah and the Hamas-led government in Gaza to work together by providing the necessities which was deeply needed in Gaza.