World Bank Warns of ‘Hidden Hunger’ in Palestine’s West Bank, Gaza Strip

Boys peek out of a torn mat at the al-Shati camp for Palestinian refugees in Gaza City. (AFP)
Boys peek out of a torn mat at the al-Shati camp for Palestinian refugees in Gaza City. (AFP)
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World Bank Warns of ‘Hidden Hunger’ in Palestine’s West Bank, Gaza Strip

Boys peek out of a torn mat at the al-Shati camp for Palestinian refugees in Gaza City. (AFP)
Boys peek out of a torn mat at the al-Shati camp for Palestinian refugees in Gaza City. (AFP)

The World Bank has warned of “hidden hunger” resulting from the heightened food insecurity in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

It published a report on Monday expressing concern over the poor nutritional status of the Palestinian population, underlining the high prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies among groups for whom good nutrition is particularly important, such as children under five, the pregnant and postnatal women.

“In the West Bank and Gaza, heightened food insecurity contributes to an insufficient intake of micronutrients, and poor households especially have limited access to micronutrient-rich foods, such as red meat, fresh vegetables, and milk,” the report read.

It pointed out that other factors, such as the physical barriers that limit access to health services, as well as prolonged periods of insecurity, prevent many initiatives that have been taken to address micronutrient deficiencies from having much effect.

The report warned against taking no action, stressing that it would lead to grave consequences for human health and economic development.

It highlighted several health problems in Gaza, where people mostly suffer from anemia.

According to Ministry of Health and national nutrition surveys conducted in 2018 and 2020, over half of pregnant women and over half of children aged 6–23 months were anemic in the enclave.

In the West Bank, however, anemia is a moderate public health problem, with more than a quarter of pregnant women and more than a quarter of children aged 6–23 months anemic.

High proportions of the Palestinian population are also deficient in vitamins A, D, and E, which play key roles in vision, bone health, and immune function, the report added.

Despite a decade of efforts by the health ministry, this problem still exists.



Palestinians in Jenin Observe a General Strike

A Palestinian police officer attempts to disperse demonstrators during a protest against clashes between Palestinian security forces and militants in the northern occupied West Bank city of Jenin on December 21, 2024. (Photo by Jaafar ASHTIYEH / AFP)
A Palestinian police officer attempts to disperse demonstrators during a protest against clashes between Palestinian security forces and militants in the northern occupied West Bank city of Jenin on December 21, 2024. (Photo by Jaafar ASHTIYEH / AFP)
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Palestinians in Jenin Observe a General Strike

A Palestinian police officer attempts to disperse demonstrators during a protest against clashes between Palestinian security forces and militants in the northern occupied West Bank city of Jenin on December 21, 2024. (Photo by Jaafar ASHTIYEH / AFP)
A Palestinian police officer attempts to disperse demonstrators during a protest against clashes between Palestinian security forces and militants in the northern occupied West Bank city of Jenin on December 21, 2024. (Photo by Jaafar ASHTIYEH / AFP)

Palestinians in the volatile northern West Bank town of Jenin are observing a general strike called by militant groups to protest a rare crackdown by Palestinian security forces.
An Associated Press reporter in Jenin heard gunfire and explosions, apparently from clashes between militants and Palestinian security forces. It was not immediately clear if anyone was killed or wounded. There was no sign of Israeli troops in the area.
Shops were closed in the city on Monday, the day after militants killed a member of the Palestinian security forces and wounded two others.
Militant groups called for a general strike across the territory, accusing the security forces of trying to disarm them in support of Israel’s half-century occupation of the territory.
The Western-backed Palestinian Authority is internationally recognized but deeply unpopular among Palestinians, in part because it cooperates with Israel on security matters. Israel accuses the authority of incitement and of failing to act against armed groups.
The Palestinian Authority blamed Sunday’s attack on “outlaws.” It says it is committed to maintaining law and order but will not police the occupation.
The Palestinian Authority exercises limited authority in population centers in the West Bank. Israel captured the territory in the 1967 Mideast War, and the Palestinians want it to form the main part of their future state.
Israel’s current government is opposed to Palestinian statehood and says it will maintain open-ended security control over the territory. Violence has soared in the West Bank following Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack out of Gaza, which ignited the war there.