Humanitarian Situation in Palestine

Since the Hamas election victory and the international community’s isolation of the Palestinian government in early 2006, living conditions in Palestine have declined to their worst levels since 1967. The majority of Palestinians are dependent on food and cash handouts for their livelihood, and violence is rampant – with infighting between Fatah and Hamas increasing since late 2006.

Background Information

• “The State of Human Rights in Israel and the Occupied Territories” – The Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI)’s annual report (2005).
• The Humanitarian Monitor – List of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs’ monthly reports on the situation in Palestin

Legal Documents and Reports

• Can Business Relieve the Suffering – Special Report from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, April 2006
• Act of Vengeance – B’Tselem Report on “Israel’s Bombing of the Gaza Power Plant and it’s Effects,” September 2006
• UNRWA Emergency Appeal 2007 – The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East

Maps

• West Bank Access to Health Facilitates – From the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, 2004
• Poverty and Employment – From the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, 2006
• Unemployment Rate – From the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, 2006
• Food Insecurity – From the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, 2006
• Gaza Situation Map - From the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, 2006

News Articles

• Palestinian Rivals: Fatah and Hamas – BBC Backgrounder
• Q&A: Palestinian Crisis – from BBC

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