Thousands of people have been killed and over a million displaced after the
escalation of violence in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory.
In Gaza, a humanitarian crisis is unfolding. Almost 3,800 Palestinians have been killed and 12,500 injured. Over 1 million have been displaced from their homes; supplies of water and food are fast running out.
We’re urging all parties to abide by international law to protect innocent civilians and agree to an immediate de-escalation of this unprecedented violence.
We didn’t sleep last night. We are so scared. Many people have been killed. Some of our staff are evacuating and some of them have lost their houses already. We’ve not had any electricity for more than 24 hours.
- Christian Aid partner in Gaza.
What’s happening?
On the morning of Saturday 7 October, Hamas launched a wave of rocket attacks and stormed into Israel. 1,300 Israelis have been killed and many more injured. Israeli civilians, including women and children, have been forcibly taken. In Gaza, almost 3,800 Palestinians have been killed and 12,500 have been injured. Airstrikes have caused widespread destruction of homes, schools, healthcare facilities and telecommunication installations.
Hospitals that are already at breaking point are overwhelmed by casualties, while over a million people have been displaced. With Gaza's only power plant running out of fuel, cuts are affecting hospitals, closing food supply to shops and access to water and sanitation services. All schools are closed.
What is Christian Aid doing in response?
Christian Aid has been working with the poorest and most vulnerable people in the Middle East since the early 1950s, when we provided humanitarian relief to Palestinian refugees.
In Gaza, our medical partner is providing mobile medical and psychological care. This is a local response where there is limited access, and will allow patients who've been discharged early from severely overcrowded hospitals to be treated at home. The mobile health clinic will provide people with access to a doctor, nurse, social worker or physiotherapist. The mobile dressing team will reach people who require wound dressings to be changed, reducing the risk of infection.
In southern Gaza, our partner is responding to those most recently displaced to southern Gaza as a result of the war. They're providing:
- Mattresses
- Medicines (e.g. for people with chronic illnesses)
- Emergency food from a community kitchen for approximately 200 displaced people.
Moving forward, they'll be reaching more than 300 households who are most affected, with a cash grant to support them to meet their needs.
We're actively exploring ways in which we might also support Israeli civilians who've been directly impacted by the violence.
Your donations can make a huge difference to the current conditions of those affected.
Following atrocities against Israeli civilians last weekend, Israel's military response in Gaza is now creating an escalating humanitarian crisis that threatens more than 2 million people. After 16 years of closures and sporadic conflict, the people in Gaza were already experiencing very high levels of poverty, unemployment, and violence and insecurity.
Gaza's ongoing humanitarian crisis
Even before this latest escalation of violence, the humanitarian need in Gaza has been acute for many years due to the 16-year-old blockade enforced by Israel and Egypt and a lack of effective government in Gaza.
Across the occupied Palestinian territories, there is a sense of lawlessness and Palestinians feel hopeless. Gaza’s residents are living in incredibly harsh conditions, with soaring unemployment and poverty rates and a reliance on food aid.
Despite this, the international community has failed to step in, hold all sides to account and work to ensure a peace that secures justice, dignity and prosperity for all.