The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has announced a new humanitarian partnership with United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund to support vulnerable families in Gaza Strip. This marks the bank’s first-ever charitable donation under its Community Initiative framework.
The EBRD will provide a €500,000 grant through its West Bank & Gaza Trust Fund to support emergency humanitarian activities over a 12-month period. The funding will focus on improving access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene services, alongside targeted cash assistance for households facing the most urgent needs. The programme is expected to benefit around 50,000 people, including more than 23,000 children, and support approximately 1,400 households.
A key priority of the initiative is assisting families caring for children with disabilities or injuries, who are among the most vulnerable in the current crisis. The programme combines emergency water provision with digitally delivered cash transfers, enabling households to address immediate needs such as food, hygiene supplies, and basic shelter requirements.
The initiative also includes support for transitional shelter solutions aimed at improving safety, privacy, and living conditions for displaced families. It comes at a time when the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains severe, with large-scale displacement and limited access to essential services. UNICEF continues to deliver critical support on the ground, including water, sanitation, education, child protection, and healthcare services.
The EBRD has also indicated that additional charitable contributions may follow, including staff-led fundraising initiatives that could further expand support for affected communities.
