Fadi Obiyat, whose home now has weatherproofing, water, latrines, and privacy partitions thanks to a project funded by the oPt HF. Fadi is Khalaf's brother. Photo by Ma'an

Enhancing shelter conditions for at-risk families in Kisan

22 Jun 2025

Kisan is a Palestinian village in the Bethlehem governorate of the West Bank. Located in Area C, it is highly vulnerable to Israeli settler expansion and control by Israeli forces; nearly 65.5 per cent of the village’s land has already been seized for the construction of Israeli settlements such as Ma’ale Amos and Mizpe Shalem. Residents face constant threats of settler violence, demolitions, and movement restrictions. As most families rely on herding and agriculture for their livelihoods, settler encroachment and restricted grazing zones have left many in dire economic conditions.

On 30 November 2024, with funding from the occupied Palestinian territory Humanitarian Fund, MA’AN Development Center began a project to rehabilitate shelters for 94 vulnerable households across five communities, including Kisan. Through simple but impactful interventions such as weatherproofing, insulation, rehabilitation of latrines and clean water points, and partitioning rooms, recipients of the assistance saw an improved quality of life.

Hamada Obiyat in her home. Photo by Ma'an — Hamada Obiyat, Khalaf's sister, in her home. Photo by Ma'an

Musa Hussein Obiyat, the head of the Kisan village council, emphasized the importance of the intervention: “This project helped stabilize 10 families in Kisan and has given us a stronger foothold in our own village.” It has strengthened their ability to remain on their land with dignity, despite the challenging environment.

One beneficiary, Khalaf Hasan Ibrahim Obiyat, a father of nine, said: “Before this intervention, we lived in an unsafe shelter that exposed us to harsh weather, rain leaked through the ceiling, and the uninsulated walls made it freezing in winter and unbearably hot in summer. We had no privacy or protection. The unplastered walls and holes in the structure allowed scorpions and snakes to enter, putting my family at constant risk. Now, my children can sleep peacefully at night. We finally have some dignity.” His sister Hamda, who has a disability, added: “During winter, we used to flee to relatives’ homes. Now, we can stay in our own home. This support has changed our lives.”