RAMALLAH, November 19, 2006, (WAFA)- Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) reported Sunday that more than half of the Palestinians (52.3%) are children below the age of 18 years in 2006.

In a report issued on the Occasion of "International Child Day,"PCBS said that Population estimates of the Palestinian Territory for 2006 show a small increase in the number of males under the age of 18 years compared to females.

"The number was 1.1 million male compared to 1.0 million female, a sex ratio of 103.8." it said.

The main points of the report are as follows:

"In the West Bank, the number of males under the age of 18 years was estimated at 635,903, compared with 611,783 for females, a sex ratio of 103.9, while in Gaza Strip, the number of males was 417,804 and 402,920 for females, a sex ratio of 103.7 in 2006.

"Children aged (0-4 years) constitute 17.1% of the total Palestinian population living in the Palestinian Territory in 2006. Children aged (5-9 years) constitute 15.4% of the total population. Children aged (10-14 years) constitute 13.0% of the total population. Children aged (15-17 years) constitute about 6.8% of the Palestinian population in the Palestinian Territory.

Two of three households in the Palestinian Territory believe that there is violence against children

"65.0% of the households in the Palestinian Territory stated that there was violence against children of which 69.8% in the West Bank and 55.5% in Gaza Strip, (1st mid of 2006). While 56.8% of the households stated that the current crisis in the Palestinian Territory represented the main source of violence against children compared to 9.6% due to absence of security.

"More than half (52.2%) of the Palestinian households believed that they are able to provide security for their children.

"The indicators showed that the majority of children were exposed to assault mainly at home followed by school and at streets.

"Between September 2000 to 31/10/2006, 868 Palestinian children were martyred, (19.2% of the total martyrs), 358 children in the West Bank and 508 in Gaza Strip, and 2 children in the occupied Palestinian Territory 1948.

"About 391 Palestinian children were arrested between 28/9/2000, and 28/2/2006.

"During the Al-Aqsa Intifada, the Israeli occupation forces attacked 269 schools in different places in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. These schools were forcefully and illegally broken into, teargas and bullets were used against students, and the premises were then bombed. And 498 schools were closed in addition to 1,289 schools were closed at the begging of -Aqsa intifada.

"During Al-Aqsa intifada, September 29, 2000, till January 20, 2006, 579 students were martyred in the Palestinian Territory, and 7 students from illiteracy centers in Nablus and Hebron.

"Injured students during Al-Aqsa intifada totaled 3,471 during September 29th, 2000 to January 20, 2006.

Tow out of every Five children (under 18 years old) live in poverty.

"By the end of 2005, there was more than 36.9% of children in the Palestinian Territory living in poverty (of which 28.3% in the West Bank, and 50.1% in Gaza Strip), and they presented more than half of the poor (56.8%) in the Palestinian Territory.

From every ten children (under 18 years old), one of them was classified as a worker

"6.6% of the total number of children aged 10-17 years, were classified as workers during the 3rd quarter of 2006, of which 4.8% in the West Bank and 2.1% in Gaza Strip.

"68.1% of the employed children were classified as family workers (unpaid family employee), and 24.6% of them as wage-employees.

"The majority of the employed children (41.9%), were classified as a agricultural, fishing and forestry workers, followed by commerce, restaurants and hotels (32.9%), mining and manufacturing (12.2%), and construction (8.5%).

Child Health:

"Infant mortality rate dropped from 25.5 per 1000 births between 1995 and 1999 to 24.2 per 1000 births between 1999 and 2003.

"Under five mortality rate also dropped from 28.7 per 1000 births between 1995-1999 to 28.3 per 1000 births between 1999-2003.

"The data in the annual report of the Ministry of Health 2004 states that the main leading causes of infant mortality in the West Bank were premature delivery and low birth weight (16.0%), respiratory system diseases including infection (8.3%), and congenital anomalies (18.3%).

"In Gaza Strip, infant mortality caused by premature and low birth weight remained the main leading causes of infant mortality (34.6%).

"Conditions in the perinatal period with a proportion are the main leading causes of deaths among infants and children under five, in West Bank 33.5% and 45.7% in Gaza Strip.

"9.9% of children under five years suffered from stunting and 4.9% of children suffered from underweight, 2.8% of children suffered from wasted in 2004.

At the outset of the scholastic year 2005/2006, more than 1.1 million were supposed to be enrolled in schools, while 750 thousands were unable to go to schools because of the strike

"In the scholastic year 2005/2006, 70.2% (757,615 students) of total students were enrolled in governmental schools, 23.6% (254,552 students) were enrolled in UNRWA schools, and 6.2% (66,321 students) of them were enrolled in private schools. About 11.6% of them were in the secondary stage, and 88.4% are in the basic stage.

"Students at basic stage increased from 572,529 in the scholastic year 1994/1995 to 953,621 in the scholastic year 2005/2006, an increase rate of 66.6%. Females and males constituted 49.7% and 50.3% respectively.

"Students at secondary education stage increased from 45,339 in 1994/1995 to 124,867 students during the scholastic years 2005/2006, an increase of 175.4%. Female students constituted 52.1% of the total number students, and males constitute 47.9%.

"The strike prevented more than 750 thousands of them to be enrolled in their schools at the outset of the scholastic year 2005/5006 for more than two months.

From every four cultural centers which having libraries, three of them have special section for children in their libraries in 2005.

"The number of cultural centers in the Palestinian Territory is 213 including 174 operating centers, 122 of which are in the West Bank and 52 in Gaza Strip.

"In 2005, about 60.3% of the cultural centers in the Palestinian Territory have libraries (62.3% in the West Bank and 55.8% in Gaza Strip) and 74.2% of cultural centers which having libraries have special section for children in their libraries.

"In 2004, about 71.5% of households who have children under 18 years do not have computers, 4.8% do not have TV sets, 28.6% do not have a satellite dish, and 90.7% do not have Internet at home.

"The findings of the Computer, Internet and Mobile Survey 2004 showed that 28.5% of households having children under 18 years in the Palestinian Territory have computers, with 31.1% in the West Bank compared with 23.8% in Gaza Strip.

S.A.S. (14:46 P) (12:45 GMT)