Poverty in Palestine

In a classroom in Palestine © United Nations Development Programme

A lack of political and economic freedom has severely impeded Palestinian progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Poverty has tripled since 1999, enrolment rates in education have fallen and key humanitarian sectors have been forced into emergency mode. In addition to the problems brought by 60 years of occupation and constant conflict, over half the population is under 18 and there are high fertility rates: human development in Palestine clearly faces significant challenges, many of which require a political solution.

The focus of immediate concern is on Gaza. Since June 2007 when Hamas control became confined to that region, Israel tightened existing restrictions and worsened the blockade, reducing supplies of fuel and power and allowing delivery of only a fraction of essential goods. The current situation represents the worst humanitarian crisis in Palestine since the 1967 war. Out of the population of 1.5 million in Gaza, 80% are now dependent on food aid, 70% are surviving on less than $1.20 per day, health services have been severely compromised and education is being disrupted.

Health in Palestine

Palestinian children © Palestinian Human Rights Monitoring Group

Food insecurity in Gaza has an inevitable impact on health and the head of the United Nations Relief Works for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has spoken of the increased stunting of children. By December 2007 a significant proportion of essential drugs and medical supplies had run out, including most children's antibiotics. The Israeli siege also condemns hospitals to manage for long periods without electricity.

Life expectancy in the OPT currently stands at 73 years but this hides the massive psychological impact of the occupation. Daily scenes of violence, arrests, harrassment by soldiers, house demolitions and checkpoint delays have resulted in a plethora of social problems for which there are few coping mechanisms. Bed wetting, increased tendency towards violence, manifest anxiety and nervousness have all been documented in Palestinian children. The separation wall has dispossessed Palestinians of fertile land and water sources, further limiting water supply. Along with low sewage system coverage this increases concern for waterborne diseases, such as potentially fatal childhood diarrhoea and dehydration.
The Economy in Palestine

Palestinian vegetable grower © Edward Parsons / United Nations' Integrated Regional Information Network

The current strategy of the international community appears to centre on the belief that kickstarting a prosperous economy will erode public support for the ostracised Hamas party and create fertile conditions for peace negotiations. To this end private sector enterprise features prominently in the Palestine Reform and Development Plan 2008-2010 drawn up by prime minister Fayyad. A donor meeting in Paris in December 2007 pledged $7.4 billion over the 3 years of the Plan, a generous response although less than US aid of $9 billion promised to the Israelis over the same period, largely for military purposes.

However, without radical change in conditions on the ground this aid strategy is fatally flawed. For example, both World Bank and IMF development models are based on the assumption that Israel is willing to relieve the severe and disproportionate movement restrictions. A backdrop of 563 permanent checkpoints, an estimated 560 flying checkpoints and a monthly average of 73 hours of curfew prevent people from accessing their own land and businesses from transporting goods, both within the OPT and to its main market, Israel. The agricultural market, crucial if a viable Palestinian state is to be achieved, has been especially badly affected by movement restrictions and some farmers have been dispossessed of their land. There are also fears this has increased food insecurity. Furthermore, Palestine has no currency of its own and operates in enforced monetary union with Israel which significantly restricts the government's ability to manage its economy.

Gaza residents queue outside bakery © Lucy Mair

These constraints and pressures have resulted in Palestinian GDP falling by 40% since 1999. a recession which has been described by UN and NGO agencies as the de-development of the OPT. Although the government has responded by greatly increasing the number of civil servants, unemployment in the West Bank is over 30% largely owing to the crippling border restrictions which affect thousands of Palestinians who are dependent on jobs in Israel. In Gaza, the Israeli siege has brought the economy to a complete standstill - even UN reconstruction projects have been suspended. Few people can be described as "employed". The region depends on humanitarian aid organised as direct social support to beneficiaries together with direct cash payments to Hamas from sympathetic Arab governments and organisations.

The lack of Israeli investment in the territories has long been compensated by significant flows of international aid and the 2007 resumption of normal aid flows to the Fatah government has brought some relief, at least to those in the West Bank. But aid agencies, are increasingly pointing out that these vast sums can achieve nothing other than short term humanitarian benefit unless accompanied by a decisive shift in the impositions of the occupying power.



The OneWorld Palestine Guide was first published in this format in January 2006 with a text written by Volunteer Editor Jo Kelcey

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