United Nations report released Friday stated that some two million Palestinians were living on less than 2.1 euro a day, and a poverty rate of 63 percent, in mid-2003.
The UN’s Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) concluded that economic and living conditions have deteriorated considerably in all Palestinian areas as a result of Israel’s occupation.
42% of Palestinian families are dependent on humanitarian assistance.
The ESCWA report was based on a research conducted between January 2003 and February 2004.
"Most economic and social data show marked deterioration of living conditions for the Palestinian people, including new forms of dispossession and destruction of private and public assets of all kinds." The report stated.
The report pointed to Refugees, women and children as most brunt by Israeli measures.
"Humanitarian assistance is not sufficient to ensure a sustainable life with dignity and rights for the Palestinian civilians under occupation," the report said.
"The sustainable option for addressing the current economic and social deprivation lies in lifting the occupation of the Palestinian territory" the report concluded.
