Palestine

The Situation

Conflict, economic stagnation, severe trade restrictions and high unemployment continue to drive hunger in Palestine. Even before COVID-19, more than half of Gaza’s population lived in poverty and unemployment stood at 45%. Many families struggled to put food on the table. Recent escalations of violence have caused significant suffering and destruction.

Today, over 1 million people in Palestine are severely hungry: 90% of them live in Gaza.

WFP's Work

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has been in Palestine since 1991. We provide food assistance to non-refugees facing the most extreme forms of hunger. Every month, over 400,000 people in Gaza and the West Bank receive U.N. World Food Programme assistance.

Our work combines ongoing operations to address urgent humanitarian needs in Palestine, while supporting early recovery and sustainable, long-term food security.

• General food assistance: The U.N. World Food Programme provides the hungriest non-refugees in Gaza and the West Bank with food assistance, primarily in the form of electronic vouchers. Beneficiaries can use these vouchers to buy foods of their choice. In December 2022, nearly 400,000 people received U.N. World Food Programme assistance: 80% received cash-based transfers. In-kind assistance included wheat flour, chickpeas, lentils, salt and vegetable oil.
• Enhancing resilience: WFP fosters early recovery and enhances the resilience and coping mechanisms of fragile communities in the face of economic hardship and restricted freedom of movement.
• Social safety nets: WFP supports the Palestinian Authority’s (PA) national safety net by strengthening government capacity.