Statement issued by the Coalition for Accountability and Integrity (AMAN)
About the Reconstruction of Jenin Camp
Ramallah/Gaza: The Coalition for Accountability and Integrity (AMAN) pays tribute to the people of Jenin camp who withstood the military aggression of the Israeli occupation army in early July, and the widespread destruction left by the colonial machine in the camp, which caused much loss of life, killing innocent people and children, wrecking many vital facilities, and obliterating much of the camp’s infrastructure. Naturally, all that has had severe adverse effects on the basic services provided to citizens; and, most dreadfully, amplifying the displacement trauma of Palestinian refugees when the Israeli military forced them to leave their homes, making them relive the nightmare of the Nakba of 1948 and the invasion of 2002 of displacement and the devastating loss of dwellings and property.
AMAN Coalition is also proud of the popular solidarity and the mass embrace of the people of the camp, which articulated the authenticity and cohesion of the Palestinian people. AMAN also thanks some brotherly Arab countries and some friendly international institutions that extended a helping hand to those affected by sending in-kind and cash assistance.
Consequently, we believe that the current appalling conditions of the camp resulting from the Israeli brutal invasion place an obligation on everyone’s shoulders to focus attention on meeting the immediate needs of thousands of citizens affected by the catastrophic conditions caused by the aggression. However, for the sake of impartial and effective support, all those in charge of managing humanitarian and emergency aid in all forms must be committed to following the highest levels of integrity standards and the principles of transparency and accountability, to ensure that the camp is rebuilt in the best possible manner.
AMAN firmly believes that shielding the reconstruction of Jenin camp against any opportunities for abuse of office or waste of public funds is the keystone of success for the rebuilding process; therefore, the Coalition recommends the following:
First: Adopting AMAN’s “Guide to Preventing Corruption in Humanitarian Aid,” issued by the Coalition, and ratified by the Ministry of Social Development, as the foundation for managing reconstruction operations and providing in-kind and cash assistance for the camp, especially since the guide was prepared based on lessons learned from the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.
Second: Preparing a detailed plan for the reconstruction process, including the timeframe and the authorities responsible for implementation, and making that information public and accessible to all citizens.
Third: The Technical Committee responsible for assessing the damage and following up the reconstruction efforts of Jenin Camp, which the Council of Ministers approved during its session No. 121, held on Monday, 10/07/2023, must conform to the highest standards of transparency and disclosure of information by periodically issuing reports on the progress of work, as this will enhance citizens' confidence in the integrity of the reconstruction process.
Fourth: AMAN recommends the formation of an effective system for receiving and responding effectively to citizens' complaints and reports of suspicions of corruption, wherein this system is free of charge and available at all times through appropriate communication channels, taking into account all segments of society, including persons with disabilities, women and the elderly.
Fifth: The Technical Committee must take all possible measures to ensure that citizens and all relevant authorities are able to obtain information, the selection criteria for beneficiaries, and the conditions under which reconstruction operations were implemented.
Sixth: Giving civil society institutions and external oversight bodies more space for scrutinizing and monitoring the process, as well as the ability to hold accountable any party that deviates from the principles of integrity, at all stages of the reconstruction process.
Seventh: The Technical Committee should adopt a unified database to ensure the prevention of duplication in the distribution of reconstruction assistance.
Eighth: AMAN Coalition reaffirms the need to activate the National Center for Disaster Risk Management.
Seeing that the AMAN Coalition is committed to integrity and national responsibility, it extends a helping hand to the Technical Committee responsible for assessing the damage and following up the reconstruction efforts of Jenin Camp, promising to provide all forms of technical support necessary to buttress its work environment against corruption.
