Emergency aid in the Gaza Strip

The conflict between Hamas and Israel has triggered a severe humanitarian crisis. 2.2 million people in the Gaza Strip are currently facing extreme hardship. 1.9 million children, women and men have been forced to leave their homes and urgently need assistance.

Since October 2023, more than 40,000 Palestinians have been killed and 87,060 have been injured. Over 1 million people have been displaced from Rafah. 96% of the population of the Gaza Strip – 2.15 million people – is facing acute famine. Almost the entire population is living in overcrowded shelters (in schools, churches, hospitals) and the water and food supplies there are running low. Rafah is severely overcrowded, with up to 60 people crammed into small, two-room apartments . In some parts of the Gaza Strip, people are living without access to water, food or electricity. Displaced persons are at high risk of infectious diseases due to the poor living conditions caused by overcrowding and inadequate access to water, sanitation and hygiene facilities. The recent ban on the UN aid agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) has further exacerbated the humanitarian crisis.

How Caritas is helping: Caritas International is working closely with the US Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and the World Food Programme (WFP) to provide humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip. Together, they operate aid distribution centres in the south (Khan Younis and Deir al-Balah). Since the “Western Erez” crossing reopened, warehouses and two additional distribution centres have also been set up in the north. Food, bedding sets, shelters and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) supplies are distributed. Despite the challenging conditions, over 860,000 people have already received aid. Four local church groups are also being supported to enable them to operate emergency shelters for 650 displaced persons. In addition to material aid, psychosocial support is being provided, especially for children.

The Redel Foundation is supporting the project with €100,000.

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