More than three months into the humanitarian crisis enveloping Gaza and parts of the West Bank, the situation remains painfully raw. Over 25,295 people in Gaza have been killed, two thirds of whom are women and children. More than 63,000 people have been injured, including over 1,000 children who have had one or both legs amputated due to injuries, often done without anaesthetic or antibiotics.
85% of Gaza’s population has been internally displaced, fleeing bombardment and hostilities in search of basic food, water, shelter and medical care, all of which are in short supply. Our Humanitarian Coalition members’ staff and local partners are among those who have lost family members, their homes and offices.
Humanitarian aid and commercial supplies are being held back at the congested border with prolonged inspections. There are simply not enough food, medicine, water and other life-saving supplies getting into Gaza to meet the needs.
And now, the threats of starvation, malnutrition and disease add themselves to the risks facing the civilian population caught in the crosshairs of this conflict. 93% of the population is facing acute food insecurity, with 17% (over 377,000 people) facing catastrophic or famine-like conditions.
In the midst of this fear and chaos, our members and partners are “doing amazing things in untenable situations,” according to our colleagues. As part of our duty of care, it should be emphasised that local staff and partners are not obligated to work in risky conditions or place themselves in danger. Nonetheless, they continue to do so along with networks of local volunteers.
Where temporary lulls in the fighting have allowed and when supplies are available, recent activities of Humanitarian Coalition members and partners include:
Providing psychosocial support to help children and their families address the violence they have faced.
Distributing tarps and winterization packages to households that need them.
Distributing fresh food baskets containing whatever local produce is still available, including tomatoes, eggplants, cucumbers, onions, bell peppers, lemons, cauliflower, and oranges.
Providing hot meals, ready-to-eat foods and meal packs.
Where micro and informal markets are still functioning, providing multi-purpose cash to the hardest hit families so they can buy what they most need. This includes families with extended numbers, children under two, persons with disabilities, and those not receiving any other assistance.
Distributing household items and hygiene kits
Providing assistive devices, emergency kits and medical kits to people who are injured
Procuring goods to enter from crossing points in Egypt and Israel.
These are small and desperately needed acts of hope and compassion, but they pale in comparison to the worsening needs of the general population.
On average, a mere 15% of trucks have entered Gaza since the escalation of hostilities compared to pre-October 7th levels.
It should be remembered that 80% of families in Gaza relied on some degree of humanitarian aid even before violence erupted on Oct. 7, due to the blockade of Gaza since 2007.
Authorities are strictly limiting what is currently allowed in, ostensibly concerned that some of these items could have military application. For example, our members have shared that tarps are permitted but not tents, despite the winter season and lack of shelter. Water buckets have also been turned back at border crossing points, despite the crucial lack of potable water for most families.
To echo Cindy McCain of the World Food Programme (WFP), we are gravely concerned that “people in Gaza risk dying of hunger just miles from trucks filled with food.”
As a result of these challenges, the members of the Humanitarian Coalition continue to call for:
An immediate ceasefire and respect for International Humanitarian Law by all parties
The unconditional release of all hostages and unjustly detained civilians
Consistent and safe access and movement for aid workers
An expansion of entry routes, greatly increased humanitarian and commercial supplies, and a lifting of restrictions on basic goods and fuel for humanitarian needs.
There is so much more we can do together to save lives once full humanitarian access is restored. Time is of the essence, and the clock is ticking.
Richard Morgan,
Executive Director of the Humanitarian Coalition
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The Humanitarian Coalition (HC) brings together leading aid organizations to provide Canadians with a simple and effective way to donate during large-scale humanitarian emergencies. The HC also partners with Global Affairs Canada to enable its member agencies to respond to lesser-known small and medium-scale disasters.