Violence has escalated after months of ongoing tension across the region. Over 35,000 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 15 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

Our partners are also continuing to work on the procurement and stockpiling of water, food and non-food items, and medical supplies, to be delivered once a pathway for humanitarian aid is established.