West Bank and Gaza
![Khetam Alkaabna,18, feeds her family's livestock.Her family have recieved legal help from our partner to prevent their home from being destroyed [Laura Storr]](/var/storage/images/about-us/where-we-work/palestinian-territories/images/beduin-woman-feeding-animals/1110944-1-eng-GB/beduin-woman-feeding-animals_1column50_12space_landscape.jpg)
Since the occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip by Israel following the 1967 Six-day War, Palestinians have seen their standard of living fall; today, almost three-quarters of the population lives below the UN poverty line
In the West Bank, most Palestinians cannot build homes or roads, or move freely from place to place because the Israeli authorities will not give them permission. This damages the economy, local services and breaks up families.
In Gaza, ongoing violence, including the conflict with Israel in December 2008, has left thousands of people without homes and unable to access medical care. Thousands of people, including many children, are traumatised.
We work with local organisations in Gaza providing emergency relief and counselling. In the West Bank our partners work towards peace by providing legal services to people who’s homes are threatened and finding peaceful ways to help people stand up for their rights.
 | Gaza blockade report (2.04 MB) Failing Gaza: No rebuilding, no recovery, no more excuses A report published in 2009 by CAFOD, Christian Aid, Oxfam and 13 other organisations calling for an end to the blockade in Gaza. |
![A Red Crescent official loads medicine from Egypt into vehicles to send to the Rafah Strip [Reuters, courtesy www.alertnet.org]](/var/storage/images/about-us/where-we-work/west-bank-and-gaza/images/medicine-from-egypt/978848-3-eng-GB/medicine-from-egypt_0column75_06space_landscape.jpg) |
Following almost a month of conflict in Gaza between Israel and Hamas, more than 1,300 Palestinians were killed and many thousands injured |
![A nun makes final preparations at the Lady of Peace Church, the first scheduled stop in Pope Benedict XVI's visit to the region, in Amman May 7, 2009 [REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed, courtesy www.alertnet.org]](/var/storage/images/key-issues/conflict-and-peace/israel-2009-05-13/preparing-for-the-pope/1043978-1-eng-GB/preparing-for-the-pope_0column75_06space_landscape.jpg) | Israel: Papal visit offers hope for peace Pope Benedict XVI’s first pilgrimage of peace to the Holy land gives reason for us "to be optimistic", says the head of our partner Caritas Jerusalem |
 | Child trauma centre opens in Gaza Opening of new psycho-social centre in Gaza highlights child trauma |
![Tasaheel, 12, and her family have been living under the blockade in Gaza [Islamic Relief]](/var/storage/images/about-us/where-we-work/west-bank-and-gaza/images/gaza-family/1238554-1-eng-GB/gaza-family_0column75_06space_landscape.jpg) | Gaza: CAFOD calls for end to blockade CAFOD is calling for the lifting of the blockade to allow full access to Gaza to enable reconstruction and to give hope to the people living there |
 |
A special counselling centre for children is helping Gaza’s youngest victims of violence. Find out how we are standing by the people of Gaza in the aftermath of tragedy. |
![A Red Crescent official loads medicine from Egypt into vehicles to send to the Rafah Strip [Reuters, courtesy www.alertnet.org]](/var/storage/images/about-us/where-we-work/west-bank-and-gaza/images/medicine-from-egypt/978848-3-eng-GB/medicine-from-egypt_0column75_nospace_landscape.jpg)
