As a result of the outbreak of armed hostilities in the Gaza Strip (GS) in October 2023 and the escalating violence in the West Bank, humanitarian needs have substantially increased in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt). The volatile context, with rapidly changing humanitarian needs on the ground, demand a coordinated approach of actors on the ground and funding mechanisms that support this.

Over the past years, as well as in the current crisis-context, the OCHA-led oPt Humanitarian Fund (HF) has proven its relevancy as an agile, context adapted funding mechanism. It is primarily aligned to support the delivery of coordinated humanitarian response in line with the strategic orientation provided by the oPt Humanitarian Response Plan and humanitarian clusters. The fund is driving funding to needs-based priority sectors and geographic areas, based on joint needs assessments and analysis of humanitarian gaps.

1. Support life-saving and life-sustaining activities while filling critical funding gaps;
2. Promote needs-based assistance in accordance with humanitarian principles;
3. Strengthen coordination and leadership primarily through the function of the HC and by leveraging the cluster system;
4. Improve the relevance and coherence of humanitarian response by strategically funding priorities as identified under the Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP).

Expected results:  

• Timely and coordinated provision of prioritized humanitarian aid to crises affected people in the oPT
• Transparent allocation processes on the basis of identified needs and gaps, in line with the oPt joint humanitarian operational principles, the oPt humanitarian response plan and cluster strategies.

Results from previous phases:  

• 5'155'200 persons (2'633'200 female, 472'600 people with disabilities) assisted with humanitarian assistance in the period 2021-23
• 206 projects supported across sectors, with a particular focus on food, health, shelter, Wash and protection
• Swiftly and flexibly responded to escalating violence and evolving humanitarian needs through bi-annual standard allocations, and rapid emergency allocations amounting to a total of 139 mio USD