West Bank and Gaza

Marginalized and isolated, young Palestinians seek connections to the wider world.

Photo: Thatcher Cook for Mercy Corps

In the West Bank and Gaza, Mercy Corps has worked since the 1980s to help communities meet their immediate needs while providing a solid foundation for the development of a robust civil society. Recent emergency food and job programs have helped families in Gaza persevere through times of economic distress and political turmoil. And the West Bank town of Dura has a new Girls Vocational School — the showpiece of nine schools Mercy Corps has built there since 2003.

What We’re Doing in Gaza ›

Topics: Conflict & War, Emergencies, Youth

Mercy Corps has launched a comprehensive psychosocial program involving one-on-one treatment to traumatized youth and assistance to parents and caregivers.

Aid delivery reaches Gaza ›

Despite many obstacles and bureaucratic procedures presented by the Israeli authorities, Mercy Corps successfully delivered emergency relief food items to Gaza on Thursday.

Connections To Crisis ›

Topics: Education, Global Engagement, Youth

When Cara Van Goder-Lasof's students returned to school from winter break, she had some sad news for them. One of the students from Gaza that they'd gotten to know over the previous months was dead.

Youth Voices from Gaza ›

Updates from youth in Mercy Corps' Global Youth Connectivity initiative, a program that links students from the Middle East with their peers in the U.S. through videoconferencing and an online discussion forum.

Work in Gaza Continues Amid Closure ›

Mercy Corps' programs in Gaza are struggling to operate amid Israel's ongoing closure of Gaza's border, which has led to fuel rationing, electricity and water shortages and rising prices.

Video: Sports for Life ›

Topics: Sports, Disability

In 2008, the Palestinian Federation for the Disabled became the Palestinian Paralympics Committee (PPC). Its purpose is to enhance the skills and abilities of people with disabilities through sports.

A Fresco in Gaza ›

Topics: Peaceful Change

An Italian painter and teacher noted for melding art and humanitarianism recently helped 100 Palestinian youth express themselves in a Gazan fresco.

Restocking Hospital Closets in Gaza ›

Topics: Health, Emergencies

Mercy Corps helped restock linen shelves at Gaza's four main hospitals by distributing nearly 500 doctor's robes, more than 400 patient gowns and 1,354 bedsheets.

Mercy Corps Joins Call to End Gaza's Violence and Suffering ›

Topics: Emergencies

Mercy Corps is one of the six largest international aid organizations urging the international community and the parties to the conflict in Gaza to take immediate steps to stop the violence and alleviate the suffering of Gaza's 1.5 million people.

Facts about Mercy Corps in Gaza ›

Topics: Emergencies

Emergency Response:
How You Can Help

Donate $99: enough to provide blankets and personal hygiene supplies to a displaced family in Gaza
Donate $73: enough to supply staple foods to a family of seven in Gaza for two weeks

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Gaza Crisis ›

West Bank/Gaza Facts

Population (2008): 2.4 million
Size: slightly smaller than Delaware
Human Development Index rank: n/a
Mercy Corps involvement dates to 1986
Primary work: Rebuilding schools in the West Bank, equipping people with disabilities, delivering food aid to Gazan families, connecting Palestinian youth with U.S. high schoolers, providing employment in economically isolated Gaza.

Program Details

Since the 1980s, Mercy Corps has been working to help Palestinians in Gaza meet their immediate needs for survival and find durable solutions to chronic problems.

Read more ›

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Mercy Corps

PO Box 2669, Dept W
Portland OR 97208-2669 USA
To give: (888) 256-1900
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Mercy Corps exists to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by helping people build secure, productive and just communities.

Over the last five years, we've allocated more than 89% of our resources directly to programs. America’s premier charity evaluator rates Mercy Corps a four-star charity. Click Here to learn more.