Attachments
Context
In response to the urgent humanitarian needs arising from the escalation of hostilities in Gaza and the West Bank, UNFPA Palestine continues to provide cash assistance for vulnerable women and girls affected by the crisis to cope with the current situation and decrease protection risks through improved access to essential supplies and services while helping to reduce the risk of gender based violence (GBV).
Challenges
In Gaza, cash assistance has become one of the few lifelines for the affected population, especially as humanitarian and commercial crossings have been mostly closed or severely limited. Local markets have nearly run out of supplies, leaving residents struggling to find basic necessities. Informal markets are now the main sources of goods and services, alongside a small number of commercial trucks. This situation underscores the urgent need for ongoing humanitarian support to help those in desperate need while also advocating for unimpeded access to entry of commercial goods and supplies.
In the West Bank, ongoing military incursions have displaced many families, leaving women and children in precarious situations. As they are forced from their homes, they struggle to meet basic needs with limited access to markets and essential items. This urgent crisis highlights the need for targeted support to help these families regain stability and access the resources they desperately require.
Many beneficiaries in Gaza face challenges cashing transfers due to a liquidity shortage that began in March 2024, impacting the entire economy. To address this, UNFPA in line with the Cash Working Group strategy, is promoting cashless solutions, like mobile wallets, which are gaining traction among both beneficiaries and merchants. UNFPA is actively encouraging this shift, with around 20 percent of redemptions now happening through mobile wallets.