UNICEF - United Nations Children's Fund

Published purpose

February 2026 - Palestine continues to experience deteriorating humanitarian conditions, with high levels of need in water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), multi-purpose cash assistance (MPCA), nutrition and protection. In 2026, the United Nations estimated that 3.62 million people (1.7 million children) require life-saving assistance. Widespread damage to infrastructure and limited humanitarian access exacerbated critical needs for WASH and health-care services across the Gaza Strip. High levels of malnutrition continue to threaten the well-being and survival of children in the Gaza Strip. In the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, escalating violence, settler attacks, militarized law enforcement operations and movement restrictions have crippled essential services. Around 800,000 people require water and sanitation services and 830,000 require healthcare, including pregnant women and newborns. With GAC’s support, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) helps provide life-saving support in WASH, health, nutrition, child protection, social protection and cash transfers. It also supports system restoration to children and their families, across Palestine. Project activities include: (1) repairing, operating and maintaining WASH infrastructure and services; (2) enhancing primary-level care through mobile clinics while improving secondary care; (3) prevention, early detection and treatment of wasting, including through provision of complementary food, supplements, counselling and social and behaviour change; (4) providing vulnerable households with multi-purpose cash payments; and (5) preventing exploitation and sexual abuse and strengthening survivor assistance by enhancing grassroots initiatives and by expanding feedback mechanisms.