For decades, Palestine has been facing a protracted and complex protection and humanitarian crisis. The crisis is tied to prolonged occupation, internal political divisions, and recurrent conflict that pose a threat to stability and development of the Palestinian people.

Humanitarian conditions in Gaza deteriorated drastically following a sharp upsurge in violence in the region in early October 2023, with over 90 percent of the population facing acute food insecurity. The World Food Programme (WFP) scaled up to reach 1.3 million people in Gaza with life-saving food assistance after a ceasefire was declared. 

However, hundreds of thousands of people in Gaza are again at risk of severe hunger and malnutrition following the resumption of military activity. WFP food stocks ran out at the end of March, after borders closed at the start of the month. Unless they are reopened, our critical assistance may be forced to end.

There is also deep concern over the escalating violence and movement restrictions in the West Bank, which are severely disrupting markets, livelihoods and food security. More than 40,000 people have been displaced since mid-January 2025. 

Prior to October 2023, the collapse of all productive sectors, basic social services and infrastructures in Gaza was alarming. 

The continuous large-scale security, political and economic unrest in the West Bank and the sea, land and air blockade on the Gaza Strip have resulted in economic stagnation, loss of land and restricted trade and access to resources, along with high unemployment and poverty rates. These circumstances continue to exacerbate the already dire humanitarian situation. 

WFP, through our dual mandate in humanitarian and development, provides life-saving food assistance to the most vulnerable and food insecure non-refugee Palestinians. When conditions allow, WFP can resume work to safeguard livelihoods, build resilience and reconstitute food systems in vulnerable areas. WFP can also lend technical expertise to support national institutions by strengthening their capacities to respond to shocks and building an inclusive social safety net.

To further strengthen the humanitarian-development-peace nexus, WFP can provide climate-smart agricultural assets such as hydroponics and wicking beds to households to increase their calorie intake and enable them to generate income. WFP has also previously scaled up resilience-building activities to include greenhouses, vegetable farms, sheep, poultry, and technical and vocational trainings for youth and people with disabilities. These projects reduce people’s vulnerability to external shocks, serve as a safety net, and support livelihoods. 

WFP provides logistics support to humanitarian and development partners, allowing them to reach more people faster, and at a lower cost to donors and the environment. By offering our cash-based transfer platform to the wider humanitarian and development community, coordinating logistics, and developing an inter-agency common feedback mechanism, WFP contributes to wider humanitarian efforts.

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What the World Food Programme is doing in Palestine

Food assistance
WFP provides unconditional food assistance, when this is possible. In addition to general food distributions - parcels that contain pasta, pulses and canned food - WFP also provides assistance through hot meals kitchens, and provides wheat flour, yeast, sugar and salt to bakeries to support local bread production. WFP also provides complementary nutritional supplements to pregnant and breastfeeding women, and children under 5 to meet their increased needs.
Livelihood support
WFP provides livelihoods interventions where conditions allow, such as climate-resilient agricultural assets and training, to households and smallholder farmers. This equips people with skills and tools to navigate and adapt their livelihoods to climate shocks and stressors. Through partnering with national institutions and local NGOs, WFP scaled up its resilience-building activities to include greenhouses, vegetable farms, sheep, poultry, and technical and vocational trainings for youth and people with disabilities. By introducing livelihood initiatives in Palestine, WFP helps enable the people we serve to access more basic needs while also boosting the local economy.
Capacity strengthening
WFP supports national institutions and promotes capacity-strengthening activities. WFP provides tools, guidance and technical expertise to enhance national institutions' ability to monitor and analyse food insecurity, strengthen the National Social Safety Net, and expand livelihood projects to support national partners in protecting food systems.
Enabling partners
As a key enabler for the humanitarian response across sectors, WFP has built systems for the wider humanitarian community to reach people. Through its cash-based transfer platform, WFP has supported humanitarian and development actors in reaching more Palestinians in need. WFP also provides logistics coordination and an inter-agency community feedback mechanism to partners.

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In focus

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Partners and donors

Achieving Zero Hunger is the work of many. Our work in the State of Palestine is made possible by the support and collaboration of our partners and donors, including:
Canada European Union (ECHO) France Germany Japan

Operations in Palestine

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Contacts

Office

c/o UNDP/PAPP 4A Yakubi Street, PO BOX 51359 Jerusalem, Israel
Jerusalem
Palestinian Territories

Phone
+972 (0)2 5401340/1/2
Fax
+972 (0)2 5401227
Email
info.wfppal@wfp.org
For media inquiries
info.wfppal@wfp.org
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