UNDP assessment warns of poverty surge in Palestinian territory, with 4.1 million affected by 2024
Israel’s recent war on Gaza has dealt a massive blow to development indicators, setting back progress in health and education by almost seven decades, reveals a United Nations report. The UNDP study paints a grim picture of a shrinking Palestinian economy, with unemployment levels on the brink of hitting 50 percent.
The report highlights the drastic decline in the Human Development Index (HDI) for Gaza, projecting a regression equivalent to 69 years of development. In the West Bank, the situation is just as dire, with the HDI expected to plummet by 16 years, further exacerbated by ongoing military assaults.
The poverty rate is predicted to skyrocket, affecting 74.3 percent of the population by the end of this year. A staggering 4.1 million people in the Palestinian territory are now facing impoverishment, with millions added to the ranks in just one year.
UNDP representative Chitose Noguchi describes the setbacks in Palestine as unprecedented, citing infrastructure destruction and a deepening humanitarian crisis. The report also reveals the extensive damage caused by Israel’s bombing campaign, including health hazards from rubble and destroyed solar panels.
UNDP head Achim Steiner emphasizes the long road to recovery for Palestine, estimating at least a decade to return to pre-war levels of economic stability. However, urgent calls for humanitarian aid and a ceasefire in Gaza remain critical as the region struggles to cope with the aftermath of the conflict.