Since Israel declared war against Gaza on October 7, 2023, 1.9 million innocent civilians have been displaced, around 29,000 have been martyred, and 69,000 others have been injured. The Israeli occupation has displaced people to several locations, multiple times around the 25 mile Gaza strip. Many have been evacuated to Rafah, a small border town which has exceeded it's population capacity. As a result, people are suffering from communable diseases. The lack of sanitation and basic necessities for survival make the quality of life even worse. Everyday there are massacres of innocent children who are amongst the primary victims of Israeli aggression (around 10,000 children have been martyred). Due to attacks on healthcare facilities, the injured have not been able to receive care without looming threats of attacks. In fact, since the occupation forces and Israeli settlers are blocking aid from coming into the Gaza strip, patients are not being treated with the proper medical supplies (such as ventilators and elecrcity) needed for even simple opperations, let alone complex surgeries, procedures, etc.

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers and soldiers are taking more Palestinian rights by stealing their homes, carrying out stabbing/car ramming attacks on civilians, and humiliating them by raiding their homes and businesses. Additionally, the far-right Israeli government is restricting Muslims to pray in Al-Aqsa masjid in Ramadan 2024.

United Crisis Relief for Palestine, a non-profit based in New Jersey, is raising a voice for the voiceless by working together with MIST and Islamic Relief USA to campaign and provide aid for all Palestinians. Our goal isn't just to provide humanitarian assistance but to promote goodness and resistance to oppression in society. 

Islamic Relief USA's mission is to provide development in a dignified manner regardless of gender, race, or religion, and works to empower individuals in their communities and give them a voice in the world. 

According to Islamic Relief:

Violence has escalated after months of ongoing tension across the region. Over 28,000 people have been killed and thousands more have been injured or deemed missing. In Gaza specifically, a ‘total blockade’ is in place, completely cutting off the 2 million civilians from access to food, electricity, and fuel. 

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) says at least 1 of 4 households are facing catastrophic levels of acute food insecurity, the highest level of warning; the total number of housing units destroyed or damaged accounts for over 60% of all housing units in Gaza; and more than 90% of the population has been displaced with hundreds of thousands of people sleeping in the open with inadequate clothing to fight the cold. 

The attack on the health system has been particularly devastating. The World Health Organization (WHO) says 14 out of 36 of Gaza’s hospitals are partially functional, facing challenges with the shortage of medical staff and lack of essential medical supplies. They also shared that more people will die of disease if we’re not able to put the health system back together and provide people with the basics of life.

While issues related to the delivery of humanitarian aid persist, IRUSA partners are continuing to work on the following interventions:

• Distribution of food parcels sourced by local farmers in Gaza to displaced families 
• Provision of hygiene kits to people in shelters
• Provision of vital medical supplies to three hospitals including Hayfa Hospital, Al-Awda Hospital, and Al-Ahli Arab Hospital
• Access to mobile clinics for 23,400 people in shelters
• Immediate trauma response for 4,000-5,000 people 
• Winter aid including blankets, mattresses, and winter clothing