Humanitarian Response in Water Sanitation and Hygiene and Food Security - ACF 2017

January 2017 - This project is part of the 2017 Humanitarian Response Plan for the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Projects under this appeal help to reduce the vulnerability of Palestinians especially women and children affected by the ongoing crisis. Of the 4.8 million people who live in the West Bank and Gaza the United Nations estimates that approximately two million will need some form of humanitarian assistance in 2017. Palestinians endure high rates of poverty unemployment and food insecurity. Internal displacement and recurrent conflict have eroded coping mechanisms and necessitate a humanitarian response focused on protection. With Global Affairs Canada’s support Action Against Hunger Canada (ACF) supports improvements to wastewater and water network systems along with awareness campaigns to advance sanitation hygiene and nutrition conditions for a marginalized community of approximately 8 000 as well as capacity development to support local farmers focused on women’s empowerment. For example the project provides agricultural inputs and technical assistance to help households improve the productivity of their farmlands.

The expected results for this project include: (1) reduced vulnerability of crisis-affected people especially women and children; specifically; (2) increased access to adequate sanitation facilities especially for women and girls and increased access to irrigation water to benefit local farming activities; (3) improved hygiene and nutritional behaviour and practices taking into account the specific needs of women men boys and girls; and (4) improved capacities to re-establish subsistence level farming and livelihoods activities with a focus on women’s managerial and leadership roles. The expected ultimate outcome is lives saved suffering alleviated and human dignity maintained in countries experiencing humanitarian crisis or that are food insecure.