Meet the people delivering lifesaving aid in Gaza
Local aid workers form the backbone of the humanitarian response in Gaza, and in the face of relentless uncertainty, it is their commitment that is making a difference to people’s lives every day. Despite dealing with enormous challenges personally and professionally, they continue to make incredible sacrifices to help others.
The devastating humanitarian crisis in Gaza is deteriorating every day and their job will only become harder in the days and weeks ahead without access to more aid. This is already the longest period that aid has not been allowed into Gaza since the conflict escalated in October 2023.
During the temporary ceasefire earlier in the year, many DEC charities were able to replenish much-needed supplies such as food, medicine and essential hygiene items. These have helped to sustain their operations over the past weeks.
Meet Saleem
Saleem works for the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) in Gaza, who have been supporting some of the hundreds of thousands of people returning to northern Gaza. Many of these people are finding their homes have been destroyed and are now living in makeshift displacement camps. Health packages distributed by Saleem and his team, containing simple cleaning products to remove bacteria, are aimed at reducing the spread of disease.
The harsh winter weather in Gaza worsened living conditions in camps. "We had several cases where people have died because of the cold and the rain that is hitting the Gaza Strip at this time,” explains Saleem.
With the price of clothing still extremely high, PRCS were distributing warm clothes to people who were forced to flee their homes and were unable to plan ahead for the colder months.
Despite all the hardships we endured, knowing that we contributed in some way, it was that small glimmer of hope."
Saleem, aid worker in Gaza
Meet Dr Salwa*
Dr Salwa* is an obstetrician and gynaecologist working for Juzoor, a local partner organisation of DEC charities Age international, Care International, International Rescue Committee and Oxfam. Her team is providing essential medical services to pregnant women in Gaza.
“The situation for pregnant and breastfeeding women was so bad during the conflict. All of our clinics were destroyed,” she explains.
Dr Salwa* is an obstetrician and gynaecologist in north Gaza who carried out 37 deliveries in one shelter in just three weeks when access to the local hospital was blocked. Image: Aya Matrabie/DEC/Fairpicture
They set up a team of 15 midwives that were distributed across more than 19 displacement camps in northern Gaza. Midwives were able to provide essential care to pregnant women, offering follow-up appointments and critical services like checking blood pressure, weight and height.
Juzoor staff help women and children register for medical assistance at one of ten centres setup to support displaced people returning to north Gaza during the ceasefire. Image: Aya Matrabie/DEC/Fairpicture
We tried to do something to accommodate the lack of materials, the lack of equipment and the lack of everything during this war,"
Dr Salwa, north Gaza
Donations to the Middle East Humanitarian Appeal have helped to ensure that DEC charities and their local partners could make the most of the temporary ceasefire, and can now keep doing everything they can in the current circumstances.
