Overall aim: To contribute to the improvement of Palestinian health conditions across the geographic areas of WA operations, with a special emphasis on marginalized groups, particularly children.

Under the continued Israeli occupation and the wide range of destructive, counter-development measures it imposes, the Palestinian health system is at serious risk of collapse. The Palestinian Ministry of Health (MOH) is the main provider of primary, secondary and tertiary health services for the WBGS. Starved of adequate resources, the quality of services is being seriously undermined; the MOH has been unable to maintain basic health monitoring tasks and sharp cutbacks have been reported in referrals for specialized treatment. While conflict-related violence has led to increased demand for health care, Israeli-imposed movement restrictions and the high cost of medical care systematically prevent Palestinians from accessing basic health services across the WBGS. Immunization rates are on the decline and significant increases have been documented in the prevalence of diseases such as meningitis and hepatitis. Demands on primary health care services have increased significantly. The prolonged violence and instability have had predictable effects on mental health and well being, particularly amongst children and youth. Food insecurity has escalated to some 50% in the WBGS and micronutrient insufficiency is a concern.