UNRWA: news

The Gaza Strip is a narrow piece of land along the Mediterranean coast between Israel and Egypt. It is just 40km long and 10km wide and is home to more than 1.4 million Palestinians. An area roughly twice the size of Lichtenstein, with about 40 times the population, Gaza is one of the most densely populated places on the planet. Political isolation of the Gaza Strip, coupled with conflict, and punitive sanctions imposed upon the population, have decimated the Strip’s private sector and have led to the steep deterioration in the provision of critical services, such as sewage treatment, provision of water, access to fuel, electricity, health services and quality education.

The siege imposed upon Gaza has also led to increased demand upon UNRWA for humanitarian support, through emergency food assistance, emergency employment and other forms of aid. In addition to interventions detailed in the Emergency Appeal, UNRWA continues to deliver its regular programmes to more than 1 million Palestine refugees in Gaza – more than 70% of the population.

The Gaza Field Office has also implemented a series of initiatives specifically designed to improve the quality of services delivered, such as Schools of Excellence and Excellent Health Service, as well as the Summer Games and Equality in Action initiatives, which target particular segments of society.

Through its 10,000 staff in 210 installations UNRWA Gaza Field Office continually seeks to improve the quality of education, primary healthcare, relief and social services, microcredit, and emergency assistance, it delivers to Palestine refugees in the Gaza Strip.