Middle East

Occupied Palestinian Territory

Food security
Mental health & psychosocial support
Water, sanitation & hygiene

2002

mission start date

national staff

expatriate staff

78 936

people supported

2002

mission start date

national staff

expatriate staff

78 936

people supported

Context

The occupied Palestinian territory continues to be one of the most complex and challenging humanitarian environments.

With the eruption of the new Gaza war on October 7, the year 2023 witnessed a new peak of violence and violations of humanitarian and human rights law. The level of destruction and human suffering in Gaza is unprecedented: the Israeli offensive has killed more than 35,000 people and displaced 1.8 million individuals. The population of the Gaza Strip is facing a devastating crisis which is preventing the population from having any dignified access to food, shelter, health, education, protection and water, sanitation and hygiene services.

In the West Bank, settler violence and attacks perpetrated against Palestinian communities keep on increasing, with settlers that, especially since 7 October 2023, act with total impunity. Forcible transfers, arbitrary demolitions and arrests put additional pressure on Palestinian communities across the West Bank and East Jerusalem, impeding on their basic human rights.

Our approach
Description of the mission

Premiere Urgence Internationale has been operating in the occupied Palestinian territory since 2002. Through its coordination office in Ramallah and field offices in both Nablus and Gaza, our teams carry out their humanitarian operations and responses based on the needs of the most vulnerable communities. For over 20 years, our organization has been deeply involved in critical humanitarian work. We focus on mental health and psychosocial support, food security, economic recovery and livelihoods, water, sanitation, and hygiene, rehabilitation and construction, as well as multi-purpose cash transfers, ensuring communities receive essential aid and support to thrive and survive despite challenges.

Première Urgence Internationale
in action

Usually in Gaza, Première Urgence Internationale works with local partners to carry out mental health and psychosocial support, shelter, and food security activities to support vulnerable communities and farmers. After 7 October 2023, our Gaza team initiated emergency responses by distributing water, food, non-food-items, hygiene kits, and multipurpose cash to the population affected by the conflict.

In the West Bank, as a member of the West Bank Protection Consortium, staff carried out preparedness and mitigation activities, as well as emergency responses to settler violence. Paired with mental health and psychosocial support, these activities strengthen the resilience of Palestinian communities and decrease the risk of forcible transfer. We support the livelihoods of West Bank communities and farmers by providing cash support, water, sanitation, hygiene, agricultural inputs, and facilitating access to agricultural lands.

Across occupied Palestinian territories, we collaborate with the French Development Agency and British Council funds to safeguard and protect archaeological sites and the cultural heritage of the Palestinian population.

Première Urgence Internationale
is mobilized

Since the beginning of the conflict, Première Urgence Internationale has been tirelessly advocating for humanitarian access and the protection of civilians. On the ground, our teams are witnessing a continuous deterioration of living conditions, in a context of insecurity, instability, and profound human suffering.

In light of the urgency, we call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, the removal of all barriers to the delivery of aid, and the unrestricted opening of humanitarian crossing points. These are essential conditions to ensure the continuity of our operations and to meet the vital needs of the affected populations.

Respect for international humanitarian law is not optional. It requires all parties to the conflict to guarantee safe, rapid, and unimpeded humanitarian access. When these obligations are not upheld, the ability of humanitarian actors to respond is severely hindered, the vulnerability of civilians increases, and the crisis deepens.

Photo credit: ©TaniaRieu – “Red Line for Gaza” mobilization (Paris, France)