Member Charity Activity in Gaza

January 16, 2009—Reports from the field indicate that the military offensive currently underway in the Gaza Strip, ongoing since December 27, is disproportionately affecting civilians—women and children in particular. In fact, the latest United Nations estimates show that of the more than 1,100 Palestinians killed to date, 400 were women and children.

Photo: Hamdi Ferwana/Mercy Corps Safa Nasr (left) distributes one of 465 emergency packages of food to families displaced from villages near Khan Younis, Gaza. Most of the packages of cooking oil, rice and canned tuna were delivered to families whose homes have been destroyed in the fighting between Israel and Hamas.

According to UNICEF, “children form over half of Gaza's population...and are the first to be psychologically distressed, the most in need of medical support and the most exposed to injuries among civilians in times of conflict.”

Already a vulnerable region—approximately 8 in 10 families were receiving some form of humanitarian assistance prior to the outbreak of the conflict—75 percent of Gaza remains without functioning electricity, and hospitals report rapidly dwindling medical supplies.

Food is in limited supply as well: “People are rationing what they eat,” said Yazdan El-Amawi, CARE's emergency team leader in Gaza.

“I don't know how much longer people can hold out. They are trying to make things last, but in a week or less, if the situation continues, if we don't get more food and emergency supplies, people will collapse.”

The New York Times indicated today that some progress has been made towards a cease-fire agreement, however non-governmental organizations still find it tremendously difficult to deliver adequate aid as the fighting continues.

Read on to learn how many Global Impact charities already on the ground in Gaza are working to reach thousands of affected civilians, despite the heightened security risks:

AmeriCares’ delivery of more than $1.4 million in lifesaving aid to partner agency, American Near East Refugee Aid (ANERA), has been approved by the Israeli government for delivery to Gaza. Local hospitals and health care clinics will receive medical aid including antibiotics, bandages, surgical supplies, pain medicines and other basic supplies.

ANERA reports that 81 pallets of fortified milk have been successfully delivered into Gaza, half delivered to Khan Younis and half to Gaza City. This delivery is part of a first-level response to the humanitarian crisis, which will channel $600,000 from private donors to immediate relief efforts and distribute $4 million worth of donated hygiene kits, medicines and other supplies. ANERA will also be delivering prepackaged food parcels which include lentils, rice and flour to underserved areas outside of Gaza City.

When the conflict began in late December, CARE immediately distributed medical supplies, blankets, heaters and winterization kits and fresh vegetables to hospitals, families and homebound individuals. But since the escalation of activity on January 3, it has become too dangerous to transport produce and medical supplies to needy families. “It's horrible,” said El-Amawi. “Mothers, fathers, children are all waiting to get food, but they know it's a restricted area that could be hit any moment.”

Church World Service and Lutheran World Relief are supporting relief efforts as members of an international alliance. Supported efforts include the provision of food—including high-energy biscuits for children—medicine and blankets, as well as the deployment of trauma counselors. A priority will be aiding infants and small children, as well as their mothers.

The Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) teams in Gaza, composed of three international and nearly 70 Palestinian staff members, have been trying to support Palestinian medical facilities and treat the wounded since the offensive began. They have already distributed medical supplies and medications to several hospitals that were close to running out of material. Approximately 20 MSF staff are treating Palestinians in their homes, visiting close to 40 people every day. “The level of insecurity is so high that our ability to travel and provide medical aid is extremely limited,” said Jessica Pourraz, MSF field coordinator in Gaza.

International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) has released emergency funds and is working in cooperation with other humanitarian aid organizations to deliver medical supplies and pharmaceuticals to Gaza hospitals that are stretched to capacity. “Gaza was already in a desperate situation before this increased conflict with a significant lack of food, medicine, fuel and electricity. All commodities are in scarce supply,” said Dirk Lackovic-van Gorp, IOCC’s Representative for the Palestinian Territories.

In response to the growing number of civilian casualties and severe shortage of medical supplies in Gaza, International Relief Teams is partnering with international and local humanitarian partners with established presence and programs in the region to deliver medications and critical emergency supplies.

The International Rescue Committee is working with partners to deliver urgently needed supplies to hospitals and other centers providing humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza. The organization is also dispatching emergency aid specialists to the Palestinian Territories with a view toward expanding relief activities in the area. With IRC funds, a local foundation will be procuring desperately needed drugs, medical equipment and other vital items that are in short supply in Gaza as the crisis worsens.

Though they faced many obstacles, Mercy Corps was able to deliver a truckload of rice, vegetable oil, canned tuna and other food staples for hungry Gazans. In addition, the organization was able to provide blankets, mattresses, pillows and powdered milk for families newly displaced to UN refugee camps. Despite the conditions, Mercy Corps plans additional shipments of supplies to help thousands of vulnerable families.

Oxfam America’s local partner organizations continue to provide emergency health care in Gaza despite dangerous conditions. Oxfam is now distributing food and will expand an existing program through which poor families receive vouchers to purchase poultry, fruit and vegetables from local farmers. The organization will also distribute blankets and plastic sheeting for temporary repairs to damaged structures.

Save the Children delivered food parcels containing two-week supplies for households of up to 10 people in Khan Younis, Middle Camp and Rafah in the south. In the north, 100 families in the Bedouin camp of Umm Al Nasser received food parcels. Donkey carts were used to deliver food parcels in Umm Al Nasser because truck drivers were afraid to venture to the area in their vehicles.

United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is contributing to humanitarian efforts in the Gaza Strip through multiple partner agencies already at work in the region. The complex issues surrounding the situation in Gaza are compounded by limited access to the region. UMCOR is meeting regularly with local partners to overcome these obstacles to reach survivors with tangible assistance.

World Vision has begun a substantial relief operation to bring food and blankets to 50,000 people who are in extreme need. “Our priority now is to assist those who are living in intolerable conditions with limited access to food, water, or medical facilities,” said Charles Clayton, national director for Jerusalem, West Bank and Gaza. “At a later stage, World Vision will develop cash or food for work activities, to help families provide for basics like medication, food, water and household supplies.