Uzbekistan has introduced comprehensive measures to assist Palestinian women and children evacuated from Gaza late last year, including financial aid, housing support, free education, and healthcare. A presidential decree published on August 14 announced the creation of a special fund to finance these programs, UzA reported.
On December 26, 2024, 100 injured Palestinian women and children were evacuated from Rafah to Uzbekistan. They were admitted to hospitals and rehabilitation centers for treatment and provided with medication and medical examinations. Authorities say the new measures aim not only to address urgent needs but also to help the group adapt and integrate into Uzbek society.
Special fund and social support
The decree establishes a special fund under the National Social Protection Agency to cover living expenses, rent, and one-time material assistance. Funding will come from charitable donations, international grants, and other legal sources, with spending monitored by a national commission to ensure transparency.
The measures include monthly allowances for working-age adults, full coverage of rental costs for families, one-time payments for childbirth and funeral expenses equivalent to those granted to Uzbek citizens, and lump-sum assistance for essential non-food items. Each family will be assigned a local social worker to assess needs and provide tailored support.
A Republican Commission will coordinate the work of government agencies to resolve practical issues swiftly. Local mahalla committees and social service centers will directly assist families in adapting to community life.
Focus on education and healthcare
The decree guarantees free enrollment for children in state kindergartens and schools without waiting lists, with kindergarten fees waived until January 1, 2028. The Ministry of Higher Education will recognize the foreign academic documents of Palestinian students within two months, without fees or additional exams.
The Ministry of Health will register evacuees at family medical centers and polyclinics near their residences, granting them free care on the same terms as low-income Uzbek families. Any evacuee diagnosed with a disabling condition will be granted disability status regardless of treatment timelines, while elderly people without sufficient work records will receive pensions within two weeks.
Employment and integration
The Social Protection Agency has one month to develop proposals for helping evacuees find jobs and acquire new skills. The Ministries of Economy and Labor, along with commercial banks, will include Palestinians in entrepreneurship and small business support programs such as “Family Entrepreneurship,” “Support for Small Business,” and “First Step to Business.” Local officials and community bankers will oversee the use of funds and provide practical guidance.
Humanitarian context
Uzbekistan’s decision comes amid a worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. According to the Health Ministry in the Hamas-run administration, more than 60,000 Palestinians have been killed and over 145,000 injured since the outbreak of war in October 2023, the Associated Press reported.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly suggested relocating Palestinians from Gaza to countries including South Sudan, a proposal that Juba has denied discussing. Hamas says it will disarm only if Israeli forces fully withdraw from Gaza, a condition that continues to hinder progress in ceasefire talks, Reuters reports.
