The UN urged swift action to address the comprehensive societal collapse being experienced by Palestinians as a result of the conflict.

A joint assessment by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) predicts a significant rise in poverty across the State of Palestine. The report forecasts that by 2024, the poverty rate will surge to 74.3%, affecting 4.1 million citizens, including 2.61 million newly impoverished individuals.

The Palestinian economy is also expected to suffer severely, with gross domestic product (GDP) anticipated to shrink by 35.1% in 2024 compared to projections without the war. Additionally, unemployment is forecast to rise to 49.9%, signaling a deepening economic crisis.

UN experts described the humanitarian situation as catastrophic, with massive human losses, widespread destruction, and severe food insecurity marking the landscape. The report highlighted the challenges posed by mass displacement, a shortage of safe havens, and Israeli-imposed restrictions on aid delivery, which have worsened the crisis.

The war has exacerbated multidimensional poverty, with the State of Palestine's multidimensional poverty index expected to increase from 10.2% in 2017 to 30.1% by 2024. Key indicators such as housing, access to services, and safety have all significantly deteriorated.

The report, prepared in collaboration with the UN, international organizations, and other bodies, further stated that as of September 2024, around 3.3 million Palestinians—2.3 million of them in Gaza—were in desperate need of humanitarian assistance. This includes 1.5 million children requiring urgent aid, underscoring the grave toll the conflict has taken on the civilian population. (ILKHA)