What is happening in Gaza and can DEC charities still provide aid?

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to deteriorate, but donations to the Middle East Humanitarian Appeal are making a difference and helping DEC charities and their local partners to reach people with lifesaving aid.

The extraordinary challenges around aid delivery in Gaza have had a devastating impact on them over the past months, and they are facing extreme shortages of food, fuel and medicine. 

They are doing everything they can to continue providing emergency support even in these dire conditions. Safe and sustained access for humanitarian aid has never been more urgent.  

What is happening in Gaza?

Famine has been confirmed in Gaza for the first time. The global hunger monitor, the IPC, says that famine is now taking place across Gaza City and the surrounding areas, where more than 500,000 people are currently living. They are warning it is set to spread further by the end of September unless food supplies are urgently increased.

The announcement marks only the 5th time in more than 20 years that the UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) system has been used to confirm famine. Gaza City and the surrounding areas have reached IPC Phase 5, which means more than 30% of children are acutely malnourished, and people are dying every day from hunger related causes. 

Gaza's health system has been decimated, and a dire shortage of fuel means the few hospitals still operating are being forced to make impossible decisions about the treatment they can provide. The remaining supplies of medicine and baby formula are running critically low.

A surge in mass casualty incidents linked to new aid distribution sites has overwhelmed the shattered healthcare system even further, pushing it past its limit.⁣ DEC charities and their local partners are working separately to those distribution sites to deliver the support they are still able to, as safely as they can, such as medical care.

Through everything, staff and their families are dealing with unimaginably harsh conditions and facing significant risks as they carry out their vital work.

How are DEC charities supporting people ?

Even in these dire conditions, DEC charities and local partners have still found ways to provide support. They are constantly adapting their operations to deliver whatever aid they can - as they have done throughout the crisis - supported by generous donations to the Middle East Humanitarian Appeal. 

 Cash assistance is providing a lifeline as local market prices continue to spiral, enabling families to buy some food and essential items when they become available. Trained medical staff are providing vital care in field hospitals and clinics, even with medicine supplies running critically low.  

 DEC charities and their local partners have been working hard to continue delivering water, despite a lack of fuel and significant challenges moving around Gaza. Addressing severe shortages of food is the most urgent concern. Although a few DEC charities and their local partners have been distributing some hot meals and food parcels, without supplies entering Gaza, most have been unable to provide the food that so many had been relying on.  

Examples of how DEC charities and their local partners have supported people in Gaza over the past weeks include:

• ActionAid has been working with its local partner organisation to deliver hot meals through community kitchens.
   
• Concern Worldwide and its local partner have been delivering clean water to displaced families. They have also funded a 'water filtration' unit to provide clean water and lifesaving dialysis treatment at Gaza's last operational children's hospital. 
   
• The British Red Cross is supporting its local partner, the Palestine Red Crescent Society, to provide medical care to some of the many sick and injured. 
   
• The International Rescue Committee is providing cash support so families can buy supplies available at local markets. 
   

Find out more about how DEC charities are providing aid as the crisis evolves here.

Donations to the DEC Middle East Humanitarian Appeal are making a difference even in these extraordinarily desperate circumstances. More funds can help to ensure DEC charities and their local partners are ready to scale up their response when an opportunity arises.