Sheikh Discusses Prospects for Strengthening Development Partnership with UNDP Director General

SadaNews - The Vice President of the State of Palestine, Hussein Sheikh, met today, Sunday, with the Director General of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Alexander De Croo, in the presence of the Special Representative of the UNDP Director General / Palestinian People Assistance Programme, Jaco Silliers. During the meeting, they discussed the humanitarian and economic developments in the Palestinian territories, with a particular focus on the Gaza Strip and the developmental conditions in the West Bank. Sheikh reviewed the unprecedented level of destruction in the Gaza Strip and the urgent need to accelerate early recovery efforts and rehabilitate infrastructure, including the water, sanitation, electricity, and health sectors, in addition to providing immediate job opportunities that contribute to reviving the local economy and mitigating the worsening humanitarian crisis. He emphasized that supporting the resilience of our people in Gaza requires large-scale developmental interventions coordinated with national entities to ensure effective and sustainable responses. The meeting also addressed the severe repercussions of the blockade and the economic measures imposed on the West Bank, and their reflections on various productive and service sectors, causing economic tightening that exacerbates unemployment rates and affects the ability of institutions to continue operating. Sheikh stressed the importance of expanding support programs for small and medium enterprises, empowering youth and women, and enhancing social protection to help alleviate the effects of the economic blockade. De Croo affirmed the commitment of UNDP to continue working in the State of Palestine and to intensify its programs in the areas of economic recovery, capacity building, and support for local communities. He pointed to the importance of a close partnership with the Palestinian government to ensure that interventions align with national priorities, thus supporting recovery efforts in Gaza and contributing to enhancing economic and social stability in the West Bank within the framework of a sustainable developmental vision that serves the aspirations of the Palestinian people.