Gaza & the West Bank
- Population: 5.2 million
- People in Need: 2.1 million
Our Impact
- People Helped Last Year: 820,049
- Our Team: 89 employees
- Program Start: 2002
Action Against Hunger Rebuilds Roads and Water Supplies in Al-Issawiya
For many Palestinians, land means more than just physical space. It’s also the promise of future harvests and opportunities. Mamoun is one of many farmers now working with Action Against Hunger to grow and cultivate vegetables in the West Bank.
“I started growing seasonal vegetables in my land, such as cucumbers, tomatoes, zucchini, and later I planted olive and grape trees,” he said. “I would take pictures and show the people around me the result of my work. That motivated them to do the same.”
In Al-Issawiya, a small Palestinian village in northeast Jerusalem, we’re helping Palestinian communities reconnect with their land.
Mamoun only recently returned to his land in the West Bank. He lives in Al-Issawiya, a small village in northeast Jerusalem, which has a land area of roughly 3.6 square miles. Palestinians are only allowed to live on part of this land, because Israel’s government restricts building and expansion outside of a sectioned area.
Beyond this small area lies the majority (nearly three quarters) of Al-Issawiya, also known as Rawabi Al-Issawiya. This land, which includes farmland, has rolling hills and fertile grounds. It is an annexed territory completely controlled by Israel.
By building vital water networks and opening roads, people like Mamoun can now access their land, grow food, and, most importantly – return home.
These two parts of Al-Issawiya (the farmland and the small, sectioned area where Palestinians can live) are separated by the Annexation and Separation Wall, which significantly hinders Palestinians from accessing their lands. Beyond the wall, the farmland of Al-Issawiya is neglected and abandoned. Here, there is no infrastructure. There are no water supply facilities or roads, and construction is prohibited. In recent years, a small nomadic tribe (the Bedouin community) has settled in the open land, but other than that, the land is mostly deserted.
The Palestinian landowners of Al-Issawiya only recently began to return and cultivate the land. For years, many had no easy access at all.
Our Work in the West Bank
For farmers like Mamoun, our support in the West Bank has helped open the door for new opportunities and growth. Here, we’re helping resilient Palestinian communities reconnect with their land and rebuild their lives.
Mamoun was one of the first people to return. He invited other residents to join him and check on the farmland. In only a few months, he started fencing and cultivating his own land, setting an example for the others who wanted to follow in his footsteps.
“These are West Bank (Area C) lands,” he said. “We can’t build here, but the least we can do is take care of our lands and protect them from being stolen by settlers.”
Many farmers have followed in Mamoun’s footsteps, returning to their land to cultivate crops and tend to livestock.
Supporting New Farmers
Action Against Hunger has supported Mamoun and other Rawabi Al-Issawiya landowners by building new infrastructure, including a water network and several roads. Although the roads are not yet paved, they have significantly improved access for hundreds of families, allowing them to reach their land more easily. This has thus allowed families to fence and cultivate their land, opening new opportunities for growth and development.
“Without water and roads, people wouldn’t come back to the area,” said Mamoun. “Therefore, these are the first things I looked for. Action Against Hunger helped me open a few roads and get water to the community five years ago, and that was a real turning point. More and more people have started to visit the area, to get their lands fenced and revived.”
Young people are especially interested in returning to their land in Rawabi Al-Issawiya. They say that they’ve found an escape in the mountains, away from the crowds of the town. For 25-year-old Khaled*, the land is a key to his future. “I have found my passion and peace in planting and tending my land,” he said. “I love it when my hard work results in perfect fruit and vegetables.”
For the first time, Khaled and others can also use the space for raising livestock, which is nearly impossible in the limited space of the town.
Crisis in the West Bank
Rawabi Al-Issawiya lacks stable infrastructure, paved roads, and water supply facilities. Action Against Hunger is working to connect Palestinian families with the support and tools they need to farm.
“Being able to spend time taking care of my land, grow fruit and vegetables, and raise cattle is a true blessing,” said Abu, another resident, who says that farming is a big part of Palestinian rural life.
The people of Rawabi Al-Isaawiyya are determined to open more roads and expand the water network further. This will not only ensure that more land is accessible but allow people to return to their home.
*Some names have been changed to ensure privacy.
About Action Against Hunger in The West Bank
Action Against Hunger has been working in the West Bank since 2002. In the West Bank, Action Against Hunger supports families who have been displaced and those who fear they will be forcibly displaced by distributing supplies including first aid kits, solar-powered lights, fire extinguishers, and tents, and by providing mobile water and sanitation services. Our teams are also providing seeds and hygiene supplies.
