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For thousands of Palestine Refugee families across the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, daily life is marked by fear and risk of sudden displacement. In response, the European Union (EU), through its European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), has provided €5 million in its latest round of emergency funding for Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵRWA¡¯s protection and emergency shelter response for communities affected by occupation-related violence.

The funding supports a 12-month action plan which Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵRWA began in July 2025, titled ¡°Protection of and emergency response for Palestine Refugees affected by occupation-related violence in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.¡± It will substantially improve the Agency¡¯s ability to respond when families are impacted by demolitions, search-and-arrest operations, settler violence, and other protection risks in moments of crisis.

The intervention is expected to reach more than 500,000 Palestine Refugees, who continue to face escalating protection risks following intensified violence, increased movement restrictions, and a deteriorating humanitarian situation.

¡°Thousands of families are facing deep fear, displacement, interrupted schooling for children and struggle to meet basic needs,¡±?said Roland Friedrich, Director of Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵRWA Affairs in the occupied West Bank. ¡°With this generous support from the EU, Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵRWA can continue monitoring and documenting violations affecting Palestine Refugees and Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵRWA facilities, inform humanitarian action and provide some form of safety and dignity for those who have endured hardship.¡±

Moreover, the funding will help the Agency deliver timely emergency assistance, including psychological first aid, case management, and specialised referrals. Households affected by displacement, shelter damage, or loss of belongings will receive cash-based assistance to meet urgent needs, secure temporary accommodation, and carry out essential repairs.

EU Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management Hadja Lahbib said,

¡°Today thousands of families in the West Bank are sleeping in damaged homes, fearful, not knowing what tomorrow will bring. The European Union is the largest humanitarian donor to the Palestinian people, and we are stepping up. Our strong partnership with Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵRWA is built on trust and shared responsibility. Together, we are making sure Palestine Refugee families get the emergency shelter and humanitarian aid they need right now.¡±

The contribution also increases Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵRWA¡¯s operational capacity including to deploy engineers to conduct shelter assessments, and to improve security for staff to promote safe humanitarian access in volatile and hard-to-reach areas.

In 2025 alone, the EU allocated a total of €23 million in humanitarian aid to Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵRWA for the delivery of assistance in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank. The EU remains critical to Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵRWA¡¯s ability to provide Palestine Refugees in the occupied West Bank access to urgent shelter support and essential services.