Aid through institutions in the Gaza Strip between reality and aspiration: from relief to development
The article examines the role of humanitarian and development institutions in the Gaza Strip, questioning their ability to transition from emergency response to recovery and sustainable development. It notes that aid serves as a lifeline for hundreds of thousands of families, but stresses that continued reliance on it does not address the root causes of the problem. It calls for directing funding toward sustainable economic projects and cites international estimates that reconstruction needs require tens of billions of dollars.
The editorial examines the role of humanitarian and development institutions in the Gaza Strip, questioning their ability to transition from the emergency response phase to recovery and sustainable development. The article notes that aid provided through local and international institutions serves as a lifeline for hundreds of thousands of families amid the ongoing effects of war and destruction, declining income sources, and rising poverty and unemployment rates. However, it stresses that emergency aid cannot be a permanent substitute for a productive economy, and that continued reliance on food baskets or cash assistance eases the daily crisis but does not address the root causes of the problem, namely weak production and a declining private sector. The article calls for transforming the role of institutions from crisis management to recovery building, by directing greater funding toward sustainable economic projects such as supporting small enterprises, agricultural projects, vocational training, and digital work. It also cites international estimates that recovery and reconstruction needs require tens of billions of dollars, and emphasizes the need for coordination among institutions, government bodies, and the private sector to ensure aid delivery and achieve long-term economic impact.