CARE International’s history in Palestine
CARE has worked with Palestinian communities since 1948, initially supporting the urgent needs of families displaced during the first refugee crisis. Early efforts focused on delivering essential humanitarian aid, including food, medical support, and basic relief items to help communities survive and recover.
Over the decades, CARE’s role evolved from emergency response to longer-term development programming across Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem. Working closely with local organizations, civil society, and public institutions, we’ve supported access to health care, water and sanitation, agriculture, livelihoods, and women’s leadership, while strengthening community participation and civil society.
CARE has remained present in Palestine through repeated crises, adapting programs to meet both urgent humanitarian needs and longer-term recovery. Since the escalation of the conflict in October 2023, we have expanded our work with a strong focus on life-saving health and nutrition services in Gaza.
Today, CARE is recognized as a trusted humanitarian and health organization with strong local partnerships that allow us to support communities others often cannot reach.
CARE and partners’ work in Palestine today
CARE works across Gaza and the West Bank to ensure that people affected by conflict and displacement can access essential services with dignity. We prioritize communities facing the greatest barriers to care, particularly women, children, and other marginalized groups.
Our work includes:
Health
We provide primary health care, maternal and reproductive health services, and nutrition support through clinics, mobile health teams, and community outreach.
Crisis response
CARE responds to urgent humanitarian needs during times of conflict and displacement. This includes emergency aid, such as shelter support, and other services that help families recover after crises.
Food and water
CARE supports access to food, clean water, and sanitation services in communities affected by crisis, including through large-scale food distribution in the Gaza Strip.
Making the economy work
We help boost livelihoods and income opportunities that help families strengthen their economic stability and rebuild after conflict.
Gender equality
CARE works with local organizations to strengthen women’s leadership and ensure women and girls can safely access services and support during crises.
In Gaza, CARE delivers life-saving health and nutrition services through its clinic in Deir Al Balah and mobile teams that reach communities with limited access to the health system. In the West Bank, CARE and our partners provide health care, reproductive health services, and psychosocial support.
Focus on women and girls
Women and girls are at the heart of CARE’s work in Palestine. Across Gaza and the West Bank, we help women and girls improve access to maternal and reproductive health services, food, protection services, and psychosocial support.
CARE also works closely with women-led and women’s rights organizations to strengthen local leadership and collective action. Through initiatives such as Women’s Voice and Leadership, CARE supports local organizations to deliver protection services, respond to emergencies, and influence decision-making in marginalized communities.
Participatory grant-making approaches help ensure funding reflects local priorities and that women and young people play a leading role in strengthening their communities.
For recent updates on CARE Palestine, see here.
