area c
Area C is a region of the West Bank that is rich in both natural resources, and which has the potential for substantial economic development. However, it also represents the only portion of the West Bank wherein the Palestinian Authority has no security or administrative control. Rather, the more than 60% of the West Bank‟s landmass that constitutes Area C is under the jurisdiction of the Israeli Civil Administration. Here, Israeli military zones occupy large swaths of land, while Israeli settlements continue to spawn and expand each year. Palestinian communities living in Area C therefore find themselves marginalised, often without access to basic services, without adequate schools or clinics, and sometimes even without water or electrical networks.
In recent years, Area C has emerged as a key priority for both the Palestinian Authority (PA) as well as international actors in the Palestinian Territories (PTs). The development potential of Area C has been acknowledged to be critical to the viability of a two state solution by these actors and it is now increasingly important to empower existing Palestinian communities to preserve their assets, way of life, and most importantly their continued presence on the land. The underlying reality of Area C is that it holds the key to the future of the Palestinian state. As the current division of the West Bank has the more urbanised and densely populated Areas A and B forming a patchwork of “isolated islands”, Area C is critical for the realisation of a contiguous future state.
This photos are part of work realised for UNDP Palestine, as a documentation of their projects implemented in Area C.
