Gaza Strip Cash Assistance Monitoring

UNICEF State of Palestine

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  • Between June and August 2026, markets across assessed areas of Gaza continued to stock most essential food and non-food items. Food prices declined from the March peak, but non-food prices showed mixed trends.
  • Despite improved market availability, limited income opportunities and weak purchasing power continues to prevent many vulnerable families from meeting their basic needs.
  • Cash assistance remains a critical lifeline, serving as the main source of income or support for 72% of the assisted households – based on June 2026 post-distribution monitoring data - while many also rely on debt, in-kind aid, cooked meals, and support from relatives or communities.
  • Households use cash assistance to meet a wide range of essential needs. Based on the latest survey over 60% of total expenditures go toward non-food items such as hygiene, health care, fuel, transport, clothing, communications, debt repayment, and children's needs.
  • Digital cash transfers remain highly accessible, with 99% of respondents satisfied or very satisfied with the process of receiving assistance, and more than 99% of households using it exclusively digitally.
  • 92% of respondents prefer unrestricted cash to in-kind assistance or mixed modalities, because it allows them to respond flexibly to priorities.
  • Dietary diversity among young children remained poor, with consumption largely limited to grains and dairy products, while intake of fruits, vegetables, eggs, legumes, and flesh foods remained low. It must be noted that a post-distribution monitoring sample is not representative of the general population.
  • Most nutrient-rich foods consumed by children were purchased in local markets, underscoring the importance of cash assistance in enabling families to access more diverse diets.

 

Read the latest:

Market Monitoring Report | Food & Non-Food Items

 

Price Observations Dataset