EU and Spain provide €15.5 million for the payment of social allowances to vulnerable Palestinian families

The EU supports the Palestinian Authority's (PA) Ministry of Social Development in providing basic social allowances to the most vulnerable families in the West Bank and Gaza through its Cash Transfer Programme. Given the Palestinian Authority's current financial crisis, the European Union and Spain have stepped in to fully cover two overdue payments for eligible beneficiaries in the West Bank.

In Gaza, where the humanitarian crisis is escalating, the EU is partnering with the Ministry of Social Development and various international organizations to deliver aid through multiple humanitarian channels. This comprehensive approach aims to reach the increasing number of vulnerable families there and address their basic needs amid the ongoing war there.

This payment for social allowances is part of the short-term emergency financial support to Palestine addressing the most pressing needs, as announced by the European Union. It will target 27,561 extremely poor families, persons with severe disability and elderly above 65 years without pension in the West Bank. The European funding is channelled and verified through the PEGASE mechanism to ensure their eligibility. Various independent and external checks are carried out before and after the European disbursement. The EU is providing €13.5 million while Spain is providing €2 million.

"Social protection is a priority and a basic human right that should be upheld by governments worldwide. In Palestine, European Development Partners have been instrumental in assisting the Palestinian Authority in establishing its own social protection system, which includes a Cash Transfer Programme aimed at supporting the poorest and most vulnerable. This programme is currently facing unprecedented challenges due to the ongoing PA fiscal crisis. This contribution by the EU and Spain reaffirms unwavering European commitment to support the most vulnerable in Palestine. This comes in parallel to unprecedented European humanitarian support to the people in Gaza where hundreds of thousands of families are struggling for their basic needs," said the EU Deputy Representative Maria Velasco.

"Social protection is a priority and a basic human right that should be upheld by governments worldwide. In Palestine, the European Development Partners have been instrumental in assisting the Palestinian Authority in establishing its own social protection system, which includes a Cash Transfer Programme aimed at supporting the poorest and most vulnerable. This programme is currently facing unprecedented challenges due to the ongoing PA fiscal crisis. This contribution by the EU and Spain reaffirms our unwavering European commitment to support the most vulnerable in Palestine. This comes in parallel to our unprecedented humanitarian support to the people in Gaza where hundreds of thousands of families are struggling for their basic needs," said the EU Deputy Representative Maria Velasco.

"For many years, Spain has been providing reliable and predictable support to the Palestinian Government for the delivery of essential public services to the Palestinian population, ensuring ownership and contributing to the reduction of multi-dimensional poverty. This year our support is focused on meeting the urgent needs of the most vulnerable households identified by the Ministry of Social Development, with social assistance benefits", said the Head of the Spanish Cooperation, Ventura Rodríguez García.

Background:

Since 2008, most of the European Union's assistance to the Palestinian Authority Since 2008, most of the European Union's assistance to the Palestinian Authority (PA) is channelled through the PEGASE Direct Financial Support, supporting the PA reform process and various national development plans. PEGASE supports the PA's recurrent expenditures, mainly the salaries and pensions of civil servants, the social allowances paid through the cash transfer programme and part of the costs of referrals to the East Jerusalem Hospitals. Since 2008, over €3 billion were disbursed through PEGASE by the European Commission and various development partners, mainly EU Member States. The European Joint Strategy 2021-2024 in support to Palestine is the basis for the implementation of the European development cooperation and provides a joint European response to the Palestinian priorities, including support to major reforms and to programmes implemented by key ministries in preparation for statehood. In addition, the EU provides assistance through UNRWA, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.