Ramallah, February 15, 2026 (WAFA) – Palestinian Vice President Hussein al-Sheikh met on Sunday with the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Alexander de Crowe, in the presence of the Special Representative of the UNDP Administrator for the Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People, Jaco Seillers.

During the meeting, they discussed the humanitarian and economic developments in the Palestinian territory, with a particular focus on the Gaza Strip and the development situation in the West Bank.

Al-Sheikh reviewed the unprecedented scale of destruction in the Gaza Strip and the urgent need to accelerate early recovery efforts and rehabilitate infrastructure, including the water, sanitation, electricity, and health sectors. He also stressed the need to provide immediate job opportunities to revitalize the local economy and alleviate the worsening humanitarian crisis. He emphasized that supporting the resilience of the Palestinian people in Gaza requires large-scale development interventions, coordinated with national stakeholders, to ensure an effective and sustainable response.

The meeting also addressed the serious repercussions of the blockade and economic measures imposed on the West Bank, and their impact on various productive and service sectors. These measures have led to economic hardship, exacerbating unemployment rates and impacting the ability of institutions to remain viable.

Sheikh stressed the importance of expanding programs to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), empowering youth and women, and strengthening social protection, all of which contribute to mitigating the effects of the economic blockade.

For his part, De Croo affirmed UNDP's commitment to continuing its work in the State of Palestine and intensifying its programs in the areas of economic recovery, capacity building, and community support.

He noted the importance of a close partnership with the Palestinian government to ensure that interventions align with national priorities, supporting recovery efforts in Gaza and contributing to enhanced economic and social stability in the West Bank, within the framework of a sustainable development vision that serves the aspirations of the Palestinian people.

K.T