West Bank families face alarming hunger and poverty crisis, new report warns
- 74% of families now live below the minimum standard of living – increased from 21% just one year ago.
- 70% of children are frequently skipping meals due to rising food insecurity.
- 9% of children have dropped out of school, many because their families can no longer afford it or need them to work.
- 950% increase in the number of families reporting that a member had gone a full day without eating since 2022
Press Statement, July 2025. Families across the West Bank are facing an unprecedented crisis of hunger, poverty and fear, according to a new World Vision report released today. The Unseen Crisis report highlights the worsening situation for children, revealing an almost tenfold increase in the number of families reporting that a member had gone a full day without eating since 2022. Three in 4 households can no longer meet basic needs, and 50% of all children are regularly skipping meals.
The report shows 74% of households now live below the minimum standard of living - a dramatic jump from just 21% in 2023. Meanwhile, 64% of families have lost income due to revoked work permits, wage cuts or closed businesses.
"In just over a year, an unprecedented economic crisis has upended the lives of children in the West Bank. The speed and scale of this collapse – unfolding with little notice from critical stakeholders – is deeply alarming. The international community must act urgently to address the needs of Palestinian children. An entire generation is at risk,” said Kristen Phelps, National Director, World Vision West Bank – Jerusalem.
The report also finds many children are now working to support their families, struggling to stay in school, and losing access to basic healthcare. 70% of children surveyed said they are skipping meals frequently, and nearly half had done so more than 10 times in a single month. In Hebron, the situation is even worse, with 68% of children regularly going without food.
Families are running out of options and school attendance is also falling as families struggle to meet basic costs or fear for their children’s safety. 9% of children have dropped out, and 37% of communities report declining attendance. Many are being sent to work instead of school, as families face impossible choices.
“Children across the Middle East desperately need an end to the fighting,” added Eleanor Monbiot, Regional Leader, World Vision Middle East and Eastern Europe. “Amidst the crises, children in West Bank are being forgotten. We have been working in some of these communities for decades, and the levels of violence, hunger and abuse are unfortunately the highest I have ever seen. We need urgent action to end hostilities, restore economic growth and support families to recover, protect children’s rights, and restore their hope.”
ENDS-
Download: The Unseen Crisis: Childhood shaped by conflict and poverty in the West Bank
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