About The Emergency
By the Numbers
Nearly 1,500 people were killed
At least 2.2 million liters of sewage leaked out of Gaza’s waste water system, affecting some 91,727 people, including 51,367 children
In general, 80% of Gazans relies on foreign aid to survive
(Source: UNWRA)
Gaza continues to suffer from food shortages, economic instability, poverty, joblessness and political violence that have left the majority of the population dependent upon foreign aid for sustenance. Constant political strife exacerbates an already desperate situation for the people in Gaza: Weeks of violence in 2008 resulted in the injuries and deaths of thousands of Palestinians. Attacks on Gaza resulted in the destruction of infrastructure, further crippling an already-stagnant economy and leaving numerous Gazans homeless. The three-week conflict had a serious impact on the psychological well-being of the population, especially children. Despite the ceasefire, which came into effect on January 18, 2008 after three weeks of non-stop conflict, Gaza’s population continues to be in tremendous need of humanitarian aid. Recently the international community has been trying to get aid to Gaza, but with the borders closed, aid delivery is difficult.
How Islamic Relief Helped
Islamic Relief immediately set to raising funds to help the people of Gaza rebuild. The donations secured allowed Islamic Relief to provide urgent relief assistance, including
- Administration of essential medical supplies, medicines and equipment to the local hospitals
- Rehabilitation of emergency departments in hospitals
- Distribution of more than 60,000 food parcels to affected families
- Distribution of thousands of blankets
- Delivery of 20,000 liters of fuel to water wells to provide running water in some neighborhoods
- Distribution of more than 17,500 food parcels to affected families
- Establishment of a crisis group psychosocial intervention project that helped thousands of affected children
Islamic Relief has worked in Palestine since 1994, and opened its Gaza City office in 1998.
How You Can Help
Here are three ways you can help us help the people of Palestine.
