Palestinians are experiencing a dramatic decline in their living standards and a regression of the economy due to internal and external movement restrictions. The civilian population in the occupied Palestinian territory continues to bear the brunt of the ongoing conflict which resulted in serious humanitarian consequences.
The closure regime applied in the West Bank, combined with the blockade of the Gaza Strip, continues to seriously hamper access and movement of goods, services and people throughout the occupied Palestinian territory. These restrictions affect Palestinians' access to local and international markets and to employment as well as their control over natural resources. The West Bank barrier isolates thousands of people from their land, communities and basic services.
In 2010, there has been a slight decline in the overall food insecurity levels. This can be attributed to localized economic improvement in some West Bank governorates following changes in the closure regime and the current Palestinian Authority reforms that are supported by a substantial amount of external financial assistance. The second Socio-Economic and Food Security survey, carried out by WFP and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip in 2010, estimates that food insecurity still affects 22 percent of households in the West Bank and more than half the population (52 percent) in the Gaza Strip. High levels of food insecurity remain a direct consequence of income poverty and livelihoods erosion, leading to difficulties in accessing sufficient quantities of quality food.
In the Gaza Strip, food insecurity levels have slightly declined since its peak following the December 2008/January 2009 Israeli military operation but the root causes remain: the continuous blockade resulting in a high unemployment rates and a moribund private sector. Food-insecure households continue to face economic constraints to cover their basic needs. In the West Bank, restrictions on freedom of movement, land and water access and working permits continue to hamper livelihood opportunities, particularly in Area C and the Seam Zone. Among Bedouin and herder communities living in Area C, food insecurity is estimated as high as 55 percent.
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