UNDP Palestine

Cold, rainy weather threatens displaced families in #Gaza. With EU humanitarian support (ECHO), @UNDP and partners are clearing blocked channels and removing waste in Salqa Valley to reduce flood risks. So far, 722 m³ has been removed. Through Germany-funded (KfW) Cash-for-Work, 20 local workers are protecting communities and restoring farmland.

For generations, Firas Market stood at the heart of #Gaza City. More than a place of commerce, it was a source of livelihoods, a gathering place and part of the city’s identity. Today, efforts to bring this historic market back to life are about more than clearing accumulated waste. They are about restoring a vital community space, reconnecting people with their heritage and laying the foundations for economic and social recovery. Through the voices and memories of those who lived and worked around Firas Market, discover the story of a place that continues to hold a special meaning for generations. 🔗 Full story: bit.ly/3VeOruw

Heavy rains and strong winds are worsening conditions for displaced families in #Gaza. @UNDP has deployed 22 heavy vehicles to clear waste and blocked drainage channels, reduce flood risks and support emergency operations. With 94 sites reinforced, sustained humanitarian and early recovery support remains urgently needed to protect families this winter.

Across the #WestBank, including #EastJerusalem, artisans, producers and small businesses face growing economic pressures, from rising costs and declining purchasing power to limited access to markets and financing. As part of its efforts to strengthen local economic resilience and protect livelihoods, @UNDP, in partnership with the Arab Development Society, supported the First National Bamboo Festival in Jericho through the Jerusalem Socio-Economic Resilience (JSSR) Programme. The festival provides a platform to showcase Palestinian crafts and locally made products, connect producers with markets and explore new business opportunities. Initiatives like this help sustain local enterprises, support employment and strengthen the economic fabric of Palestinian communities.

🇩🇪🇺🇳 With €18M from Germany, UNDP is scaling up early recovery in Gaza, supporting 300,000+ people with transitional shelter, essential services, livelihoods and community support—helping displaced families return to their neighbourhoods and rebuild their lives. Read more bit.ly/4efKtrQ

Today, @UNDP inaugurated the rehabilitated Maternal & Child Health Clinics at Makassed Hospital in #East_Jerusalem. With support from #Germany through @KfW_FZ, 6 specialized clinics were upgraded with modern systems & equipment, ensuring safe, dignified care for women during pregnancy and after birth.

Helping families return to their neighborhoods in #Gaza takes more than shelter. Through an integrated neighborhood approach, @UNDP connects immediate needs with early recovery: combining shelter, debris removal, essential services & livelihoods. 📹 Watch

Partnering with local communities to protect natural resources and advance climate action. Through the Small Grants Programme, @UNDP, with support from the GEF and in partnership with the EQA, signed seven MOUs with Palestinian NGOs and CBOs to promote biodiversity conservation, renewable energy, and sustainable environmental practices.

Across #Gaza, thousands of damaged vehicles obstruct vital roads, accumulate waste and pose environmental and public health risks. With 🇳🇴 Norway’s support, @UNDP, in partnership with local organization SAFE, has cleared 273 vehicles (over 202 tonnes) from 6 sites, with plans to remove 1,218 across 27 sites. Beyond clearing wreckage, this work helps reduce environmental and public health risks, reopen vital access routes and improve safety for surrounding communities.

Following the removal of 400,000 m³ of solid waste from #Gaza City’s historic Firas Market, @UNDP, with 🇰🇷 support, has levelled the site using recycled rubble and replaced contaminated soil to reduce environmental and health risks. This marks another step towards enabling merchants and small businesses to resume activity. Yet Gaza’s challenges remain immense, and much more is needed to restore livelihoods, services and local economic activity.

As winter approaches in #Gaza, displaced families face growing flood risks. With support from 🇰🇷 Korea and 🇳🇴 Norway, @UNDP and partners are turning rubble into protection, using recycled crushed concrete to raise and level shelter sites. Part of UNDP’s integrated neighbourhood approach, these efforts help protect displaced families ahead of winter. Sustained access to essential equipment and supplies remains critical to scaling up the response.

As the cold and rainy season approaches in #Gaza, 94% of the population still needs shelter and basic household assistance, while more than 1,000 displacement sites face inadequate drainage, increasing the risks of flooding and exposure to harsh weather. As part of the wider #UN winter preparedness response, @UNDP’s 2026–2027 Neighbourhood Winter Response Plan will combine urgent shelter support with essential services and measures to reduce environmental and public health risks. Key planned interventions include: ❄️ Transitional shelter solutions and emergency shelter sealing kits. 🏠 Rehabilitation of thousands of partially damaged homes. 🌧️ Flooding and wastewater risk reduction. ♻️ Reuse of crushed concrete to reduce flooding and erosion. 🚛 Solid waste services benefiting 1.8 million people. Winter preparedness goes beyond shelter. Through an integrated neighbourhood approach, UNDP will work with partners to protect vulnerable families, reduce risks and help communities withstand the harsh winter conditions ahead.

Developing the justice sector starts with investing in the next generation of legal talent. Through #SawasyaIII, @UNDP & partners supported 9 young women lawyers at @BirzeitU to graduate from the Huqooq-Tech Legal Incubator—building expertise in digital law, cybercrime & digital evidence. More: bit.ly/4z4QboY

Economic recovery in #Gaza means helping businesses restart, retain jobs, and rebuild local resilience. With support from Norway 🇳🇴, @UNDP is supporting 40 war-damaged enterprises through 2 shared workspaces—benefiting ~300 workers across key service sectors to sustain livelihoods and local enterprise.

When Suad returned to her neighbourhood in Gaza, she could barely recognize it. Her home was buried under debris, and the familiar surroundings she once knew had disappeared. Across Gaza, clearing rubble is about more than removing debris. It is about reopening vital roads, restoring access for humanitarian assistance and helping communities reconnect with essential services. With support from the Republic of Korea, Norway, Japan and the European Union, UNDP is working to restore access and create the conditions for early recovery. Yet the scale of destruction remains immense. Sustained access to heavy machinery and specialized equipment is critical to continue this work and help families like Suad’s regain safe access to their neighbourhoods.

On the International Day of #RuralWomen, @UNDP, with the Democracy and Workers’ Rights Center (DWRC), organized an exhibition in #Gaza showcasing locally produced food, handicrafts, embroidery, agricultural products, clothing and accessories from 30 women and young entrepreneurs. Beyond showcasing their products, the exhibition provided an opportunity to highlight local skills, entrepreneurship and the importance of sustaining livelihoods amid Gaza’s severe economic challenges. The initiative is part of broader efforts to strengthen the capacities of 120 women and young people, support small businesses and expand income-generating opportunities. This initiative is part of UNDP’s Investment Programme for Resilience (IPR IV), supported by the Government of Germany through KfW, contributing to local economic resilience and community recovery in Gaza.

Congratulations to the winning engineering students of the “Palestinian Future Home Competition”, held as part of the First Palestinian Housing Forum, in partnership with the Ministry of Public Works and Housing and @UNDP, amid increasingly urgent housing needs across Palestine, from the #West_Bank to the #Gaza Strip and #East_Jerusalem. The Forum provides a platform for exchanging ideas and expertise on the future of housing in Palestine and exploring practical solutions to the challenges facing the sector, from reconstruction and housing policy development to expanding financing opportunities and harnessing modern technologies and sustainable solutions. By bringing together national institutions, technical experts, the private sector and financing partners, the Forum creates opportunities for new partnerships and innovative ideas that contribute to developing affordable, resilient and sustainable housing solutions that respond to Palestinians’ needs and priorities.

Despite immense challenges in #Gaza, @UNDP continues to work side by side with national institutions and partners to address urgent needs and lay the groundwork for Palestinian-owned recovery. This work reflects the commitment and collective efforts of those delivering on the ground. Yet the needs remain immense, and sustained access and resources are essential to expand these efforts at the scale required. Our sincere thanks to our donors, whose continued support makes this work possible. 📹 Watch the video for a closer look at our work.

Resilience is also about the support, connections and community spaces that help people navigate difficult circumstances with dignity. This #PinkOctober, we highlight the importance of community-based support for women affected by cancer, from psychosocial support and rehabilitation to peer connections and access to reliable information. Through the Investment Programme for Resilience IPR, funded by the Government of Germany through KfW, @UNDP is partnering with Dunya Women’s Cancer Association to strengthen a dedicated space where women can connect, access support and participate in their communities. This is part of our broader work to strengthen inclusive community spaces, social connections and resilience across Palestinian communities.

Nearly 400,000 cubic metres of accumulated solid waste have been cleared and transferred from the historic #Firas_Market in the heart of #Gaza City. The clearance marks an important step in addressing Gaza’s solid waste crisis and reducing associated public health risks, while creating the conditions to bring one of Gaza City’s largest commercial hubs back into use. More than 200 merchants and vendors can return, helping reconnect local supply chains. Reviving Firas Market is part of @UNDP’s broader early recovery efforts to restore livelihoods, economic activity and the spaces communities rely on every day. Yet Gaza’s solid waste crisis remains immense. Thanks to Germany, the occupied Palestinian territory Humanitarian Fund (oPt HF), the European Union through ECHO, and Belgium, whose support made this possible.