Islamic Relief has been supporting the people of Gaza for decades, and throughout the horrors of the past 3 years.
Most of Gaza’s population has been corralled into roughly one-third of the Strip’s total area, as Israel tightens its occupation. Battered by the elements, their makeshift tents – never meant to last for years – are falling apart. Their camps have become infested with disease-spreading rats, weasels and other vermin. Families cannot go home or move to more permanent shelters.
Israeli bombardment has damaged or destroyed over 76% of homes, and those that remained standing are still at risk of collapse or of being levelled by bulldozers. Many of these displaced families are now facing their fourth winter with little more than plastic sheeting for protection and warmth.
While the prices of some basic goods have dropped in recent months, inflation remains high and markets volatile. The daily lives of Palestinians in Gaza are governed by the arduous search for water, bread and wood for cooking.
Over half of school-aged children have no regular access to learning and those that can attend temporary learning centres face a lack of supplies and teachers. The healthcare sector has essentially collapsed. Though 39 hospitals were fully functioning as of 9 September – a massive increase from the previous month – many facilities are still having to refuse care due to shortages in essential medicines and supplies. Fuel shortages are disrupting healthcare, water supply and other essential services.
Islamic Relief is working with other local and international NGOs to support people in desperate need in Gaza.
One key project is providing healthcare for pregnant women, new mothers and their babies. The women, many of whom are displaced, are receiving antenatal care services, vitamins and medicine.
We are also supporting eight temporary learning centres for displaced children who have missed years of school. We are rehabilitating and equipping centres, training teachers, and providing psychosocial support for traumatised children. Hundreds of primary and kindergarten-age children attend classes in a range of different subjects.
Your donations are helping families manage a crippling food crisis, making it possible for us to provide hot meals to displaced people and distribute canned qurbani meat.
We are also supporting over 25,000 orphaned children and their carers through regular sponsorship payments that enable them to pay for essentials such as food, shelter materials and healthcare.
Islamic Relief has been delivering aid in Gaza throughout this crisis and has been supporting Palestinians in need since 1997. We also continue to advocate for a fair future for Palestinians, and for an end to Israel’s illegal occupation which drives poverty and injustice and strips people of their dignity and fundamental human rights.
Despite the terrible suffering, Israel’s blockade remains in place, which continues to severely restrict aid, people and goods from entering or leaving Gaza. This includes even basic essentials such as some medicine and shelter, as well as preventing sick patients leaving for vital treatment. Israel’s ‘dual-use’ list means that almost anything can be denied entry, sometimes this includes paper and pencils needed for schoolchildren and items needed for any kind of large-scale recovery and reconstruction. Tight restrictions have also been imposed on cash entering Gaza, creating a liquidity crisis which, along with the collapse of Gaza’s banking sector, is impacting humanitarian delivery.
The Israeli military has also expanded its full control of territory inside Gaza, restricting humanitarian work in many areas. Persistent violations of the ceasefire hamper relief efforts as attacks against civilians continue and humanitarian workers face daily risks in an unpredictable security landscape. Almost 600 aid workers have been killed by Israel’s assault on Gaza since October 2023, making it the most dangerous place in the world to deliver aid.
Recent Israeli legislation limiting the registration of international non-governmental organisations, and requiring them to submit personal, identifying information about their Palestinian staff, is also severely impacting the humanitarian response.
Islamic Relief staff and partners in Gaza are doing everything they can to keep delivering aid in extremely difficult and dangerous conditions. Our staff and partners are facing the same challenges as the communities we serve – they are also displaced, grieving and trying to feed their families. Everyday our team adapts its plans and activities depending on the latest security developments and what is available in the markets.
Despite the huge challenges, throughout this crisis they have continued to find a way to deliver vital aid.
