The political, economic and social context in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) did not change much during 2016 and the first part of 2017. Poverty, hardship condition, psycho-social problems and food shortage are still dominating the overall picture of the situation in Gaza. The ongoing siege imposed on the Gaza Strip since June 2006 is still contributing to the deterioration of health status and negatively affecting the provision of health services.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN-OCHA) conducted a humanitarian impact assessment of the blockade on the Gaza Strip in November 2016, and has repeatedly described the situation as a chronic emergency and a protracted human dignity crisis. The blockade and three major escalations of hostilities in the last six years have inflicted large-scale destruction on Gaza’s economy, productive assets and infrastructure. A chronic energy crisis, with power outages reaching 12-16 hours a day, also impairs service delivery, students’ educational activities, the function of hospitals and medical equipment, as well as the operation of more than 280 water and wastewater facilities.
ACT Alliance, through the ACT Palestine Forum (APF), has been consistently working on the ground with the most vulnerable people. This Follow-on Appeal proposes to run Cash Relief, Job-Creation, Psycho-social Support, Health, Education, and Agriculture programs.
