The United Nations Country Team (UNCT) in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt), at its annual retreat in November 2011, discussed critical development and humanitarian challenges facing Palestinians in the oPt. As part of its programme of work, the UN initiated a study to see what the Gaza Strip might look like by the year 2020 as a place in which to live. Building on what is known now, the resulting study seeks to highlight the formidable developmental, humanitarian and social imperatives which need to be addressed and resolved, irrespective of the political context.
The document which follows thus provides an overview of current challenges and trends in Gaza, and through the lens of the UN family working in the oPt presents an extrapolation eight years forward to 2020. It is based on a wealth of existing literature both from within the UN and outside, and the wide range of sources used is reflected as Endnotes at Annex One. The reader who seeks more in-depth information and analysis is encouraged to explore the literature under References at Annex Two.
