Palestine (The West Bank & Gaza)
After the start of the Israel/Palestinian War on Oct. 7, 2023, Global Communities launched a rapid response to the humanitarian crisis and began serving as the World Food Programme’s main implementing partner outside of United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) centers. By the end of December 2023, we distributed over 77,249 food parcels, serving 386,245 affected individuals. Each parcel provided two weeks of support for a family of five.
Through funds provided by the Bank of Palestine, we also distributed winterization vouchers to 1,000 households in early December, enabling families to purchase much-needed clothing ahead of the colder months. The Palestine Islamic Bank provided Global Communities with $50,000 to provide hot meals to 9,000 internally displaced people in southern Gaza.
Prior to the war in Gaza, Global Communities was implementing a variety of programming to improve quality of life and economic opportunities for the Palestinian people. With funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), we increased access to facilities and services for safe domestic water and improved sanitation through the Gaza Household WASH (GHW) program.
Under the USAID-funded Active Citizenry Activity (ACA), we also supported efforts to increase citizens’ civic participation as they advocated for positive changes in the West Bank (including East Jerusalem) and Gaza. This initiative supported citizens, civil society actors, independent media organizations, unions and other relevant stakeholders to hold public institutions accountable, foster social and political advancement, and improve overall living conditions and prosperity.
Finally, in collaboration with the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), we focused on improving income levels, securing productive employment, and encouraging inclusive economic expansion, particularly for women and youth. We achieved this by bolstering the competitive spirit and growth of Palestine’s micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises.
*Note: All programs were put on hold after the start of the Israel/Palestinian War on Oct. 7, 2023, and then resumed activities in April 2024.
Notable Numbers
Total value of two new USAID-funded programs awarded to Global Communities in September 2023 to promote resilient livelihoods in Gaza and empower women to become change agents within their communities
Total value of 21 grants awarded by the Active Citizenry Activity that will benefit nearly 29,000 Palestinians in the areas of human rights and rule of law, combating gender-based violence, and promoting women’s economic empowerment
Food parcels distributed during the Israel/Palestinian War, reaching 386,245 affected individuals
Households reached with 3,500 hygiene kits and 350 winterization kits