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Israel Gaza War

STATUS
Active Emergency (Photo: Ibrahim Zaanoun/Anera)
DATE
October 7, 2023
REGION
Israel/Gaza

The Situation

Since the Israel Gaza war started on October 7, 2023 when Israel was violently attacked, tens of thousands of people have been killed or injured throughout Israel and Gaza. An estimated 1.7 million people have been displaced throughout Gaza – about 75 percent of the population. Intense fighting continues to push thousands of people into Rafah, where over half of Gaza’s population is currently sheltering, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA). Those displaced are largely living in overcrowded, makeshift shelters without access to clean water and adequate nutrition, heightening health concerns and increasing reports of the spread of communicable diseases including diarrhea and respiratory infections.

A humanitarian pause that began on November 24 led to the release of some of the more than 200 people held hostage and the release of several Palestinian detainees. More than 130 Israelis and foreign nationals have not returned home, according to Israeli authorities. The conflict resumed when the pause ended on November 30. In Israel, hundreds of thousands of people residing near the Gaza Strip, as well as along the border with Lebanon, have either fled or been evacuated. For the latest update on the situation, read the most recent report from the UNOCHA.

The conflict has created a major humanitarian crisis. The health care system in Gaza is collapsing with hospitals and health centers damaged due to attacks on health facilities and shortages of electricity, medicine, equipment and specialized personnel. Most of Gaza’s hospitals and primary care facilities have ceased operating; the remaining health facilities are continuing to operate at limited capacity according to the World Health Organization. Hundreds of deaths of health and aid workers have also been reported. The humanitarian pause allowed for an increase in aid to Gaza; the number of trucks entering Gaza rose from about 40 a day to as many as 300 trucks a day. The aid coming into Gaza decreased significantly as the violence resumed and is now averaging around 150 trucks a day. More aid is desperately needed.

Updated 3/28/24

The Conflict continues and the need is great.
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Our Response to the Israel Gaza War

Americares continues to be devastated by the catastrophic loss of life and widespread injury caused by the violent and destructive war in Israel and Gaza. Our hearts go out to all those affected during this extremely difficult time. We stand in support of all people impacted by the war.

How do we decide who to help?

We believe that health is a human right. And as the humanitarian crisis worsens, we are committed to providing support to meet the health needs of those affected by the crisis. Americares follows humanitarian principles and gives priority to the most urgent cases irrespective of race, nationality, geography, gender, religious belief, political opinion or class. We always ensure the support we provide is neutral, impartial and the right match for the local needs. 

Interior of damaged home with child rocking horse, stuffed bear and an Israeli flag in the midst of much debris.
A deserted house at a kibbutz in Israel that was attacked near the border with Gaza (Photo by Amir Levy/Getty Images)

How is Americares responding?

We are working with seven partner organizations with staff on the ground in Israel and Gaza to increase access to medicine, medical supplies and mental health support for frontline healthcare providers and survivors.

In Gaza, Americares is delivering medicine and medical supplies, as well as providing funding to purchase medicines and for medical teams providing care in shelters. A shipment of medicines and medical supplies for Anera, funded in part by Americares, entered Gaza on November 3. Americares first major shipment for the crisis—a shipment of essential medicines and medical supplies designed to treat a population of 100,000 people for three months—arrived in Gaza on November 27. Anera has distributed a portion of the products from the first shipment to Medglobal, and Project HOPE clinical care teams, including medical teams providing care in shelters. Another 13 tons of aid is currently in transit—including prenatal vitamins and medications to treat infections, diabetes, hypertension and asthma Combined, these shipments include enough medicine to fill more than 200,000 prescriptions.

READ MORE about our medical aid for Israel and Gaza in the first 100 days of the war.

A shipment in net and loading platform awaits load into cargo plane with tail of plane and part of cargo door visible.
An Americares shipment to Gaza containing 6 tons of desperately needed surgical supplies, bandages, antibiotics, oral rehydration salts and labor and delivery supplies. (Photo/Anera)
  • Intravenous solutions, syringes, bandages, catheters and stents funded by Americares, arrived in Gaza on November 3rd.
  • An Americares shipment of essential medicines and medical supplies arrived in Gaza on November 27th. The shipment includes 6 tons of desperately needed surgical supplies, bandages, antibiotics, oral rehydration salts and labor and delivery supplies. Four more Americares shipments containing 13 tons of medicines and medical supplies are currently in transit to Anera in Gaza.
  • We have a logistics expert in Egypt participating in coordination meetings and facilitating shipments to Gaza.
  • In addition to providing funding for medicines, Americares is funding mental health support for Anera staff in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon and Jordan over the next year to help aid workers cope with stress and trauma. The project will provide both individual and group counseling sessions as well as training for managers supporting employees.
  • Americares is also providing emergency funding to support medical teams providing health services in southern Gaza and support services for children with medical needs and their caregivers in Gaza and Egypt.
  • Americares is also funding medical care, mental health support, hygiene kits, clothing and educational materials for children and their caregivers in Gaza and Egypt.
  • We are working on a needs assessment to determine how we can do more to help those who have experienced or witnessed horrific violence on the frontlines and the tragic loss of loved ones.
Prepared pallets of relief supplies with Americares logo and Gaza sign are being checked by staff member in blue jersey.
Americares staff prepare a shipment for Gaza at Americares Global Distribution Center in Stamford, Connecticut, on Friday, Jan. 5, 2024. (Photo/Tara O’Neill).

In Israel, Americares is working with multiple organizations to meet the physical and mental health needs of those affected by the crisis. Americares has awarded emergency funding to seven partner organizations working across Israel and Gaza:

Several volunteers in black, orange and white gear with the United Hatzaleh service face smoke and fire after a rocket attack on the village.
In early November 2023, a United Hatzalah Muslim volunteer medic was alerted to a multi-patient incident in the Bedouin town of Rahat, in southern Israel. A missile from Gaza had hit a private house and a family of 16 was injured. Working alone, He triaged the victims ― who were all suffering from various degrees of shrapnel and burn injuries. Until the ambulances arrived, he cleaned and bandaged their wounds, immobilized their limbs, and moved them away from falling debris. He remained on site until the entire family was transported to the nearest hospital for further treatment.
  • Americares is providing emergency funding to INARA, a nonprofit organization that supports children affected by natural and human-made disasters, to increase access to medical care and mental health support and distribute hygiene kits, clothing and educational materials to families in Gaza and those evacuated to Egypt for medical care.
  • We are providing funding to Friends of United Hatzalah to support volunteer emergency medical technicians, paramedics and physicians assisting people injured or displaced by the war. The funding will be used to resupply United Hatzalah volunteer emergency medical personnel working in southern Israel with trauma kits, defibrillators, and medic bags, as well as essential humanitarian aid supplies for volunteers and those displaced by the war.
  • Americares is providing funding to HIAS, a global Jewish humanitarian organization focused on protecting refugees, to support a mental health hotline in Israel and distribute household supplies and baby care items to a displaced Eritrean community fleeing the attacks in southern Israel.
  • Americares is also providing funding to IsraAID, a non-governmental organization that responds to emergencies and humanitarian crises, to provide mental health support and child-friendly spaces for populations displaced within Israel due to the hostilities.

“The situation is absolutely dire—tens of thousands of families need food, clean water and shelter—and hospitals are running out of fuel. Our support will help health facilities continue operating and providing essential health services to children and adults most impacted by this crisis,” said Americares Deputy Senior Vice President of Emergency Programs Provash Budden.

The immediate impact and fallout of the Israel Gaza war, is causing immeasurable damage to the mental and physical health of people in this region. We know the longer the war goes on, the more support will be needed for survivors and frontline responders. Americares is in active discussion with partners about how we can do more to help those who have experienced or witnessed horrific violence on the frontlines and the tragic loss of loved ones.

Are you getting aid into Gaza with the blockade? 

Yes. Americares immediately provided emergency funding to a partner organization with staff on the ground in Gaza to purchase the most critically needed medicines. Intravenous solutions, syringes, bandages, catheters and stents funded by Americares, arrived in Gaza on Nov. 3. A major shipment with 6 tons of medicine and medical supplies arrived on Nov. 27.

What does it mean to be a humanitarian organization?

Americares is an impartial humanitarian organization and as such, does not have any political or religious affiliations. It’s our mission to save lives and improve health for people affected by poverty or disaster. Americares believes that health is a human right irrespective of geography. We decide where to provide aid based on health needs, available resources and where we have partnerships with local organizations, including health care providers. Americares follows humanitarian principles and gives priority to the most urgent cases irrespective of race, nationality, gender, religious belief, political opinion or class.

 

 

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