Project Overview
Decades of curfews, checkpoints and road closures have caused economic collapse in the Palestinian Territories.
Unemployment rates are as high as 38% in some areas, leaving over 50% of Palestinians living below the poverty line.

Problem / Project Background

Since the current crisis began the most devastating effect of movement restrictions has been a dramatic rise in unemployment in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Many families have been driven into severe poverty and now live under the poverty line. Most of are no longer able to meet their basic needs.

One breadwinner is responsible for an average of 9 family members. Families with school-aged children or ill and disabled members especially feel the strain as school fees, uniforms, stationery, school bags, and medicine are all additional needs.

The Family Sponsorship Project has been running since January 2004 and has contributed a significant improvement to the living conditions of sponsored families.

Children are now better fed and clothed and their educational needs are also met including stationery and school bags. People suffering from illnesses have been provided with medicines and their medical needs taken care of.

The sponsorship also covers the families’ electricity power supply. Each family in the programme receives a monthly food parcel.

Project Objectives
To ensure that 1200 of the poorest families in the West Bank and Gaza Strip receive their basic needs for survival.

• To provide support for 1200 poor families with essential supplies of basic food for 12 months.
• To help cover water and electricity bills
• To help towards the cost of medication & healthcare
• To supply children with school uniforms and stationery for the educational year

Project Activities

• Each family receives one food package each month. Most families come to IR distribution centres to pick up their regular food packages, but for those families unable to travel food packages are delivered to their homes.
• Contributions towards medical treatment fees are made directly to the local health services providers for each family during the sponsorship.
• Uniforms and stationery for school children are provided for the entire educational year.
• Contributions to the costs of electricity supply are made for families on the programme

  

Project Goal
To provide families with food and help cover their basic needs.

Beneficiaries
The project will benefit more than 11,000 individuals from the most vulnerable families in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.