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Islamic Relief Response To Gaza Crisis
Islamic Relief has been working exceptionally hard to assist the people in Gaza in their time of need. We have been active both on the ground and behind the scene delivering food, water and medical supplies as well as providing much need psychosocial support. Please read our report "Good Morning Gaza" for full details about how we have brought relief to Gaza.
- In spite of the volatile situation in Gaza, staff members in the Gaza Strip continued to work. An emergency team was formed immediately to assess the needs and respond to them.
- Islamic Relief has procured and distributed over $6 million of medical, food and other aid. delivered to the IDPs (Internal Displaced People) and providing the hospitals with the necessary medical supplies.
- Islamic Relief has delivered 20,000 liters of fuel to water wells to provide running water in some neighborhoods. Four ambulances and 48 tons of powdered milk were received at Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza. The ambulances were given to hospitals and the milk was given to school children.
- Till May, 32,000 food parcels were distributed. Crisis Psychosocial Intervention Group Project has been helping thousands of Palestinian children in Gaza who were affected by the recent war. Psychologists highlight disorders among many of the children. Activities such as storytelling. drawing, role playing and recreational activitiess are designed to help children deal with post-war trauma.
- Demolition Waste Removal Project in the Gaza Strip was launched. The project worked on removing demolition waste and rubble to a defined
area to help in the clean
On 27 December a wave of air and missile attacks in Gaza started a
humanitarian crisis. The 22 day conflict left hundreds dead and thousands injured, many of them women and children. Throughout the conflict Islamic Relief was on the ground, delivering life saving aid, and months later, although the immediate needs have changed, Islamic Relief is still working on the ground.
Medical Equipment
Within six hours of the conflict Islamic Relief began distributing five truckloads of medical aid to hospitals in Gaza, including the main Al Shifa hospital.
Working closely with the World Health Organisation, Islamic relief has supplied over £1 Million worth of critical medical equipment such as anaesthesia machines and oxygen cylinders.
Rehabilitation and Reconstruction
The priority is Gaza is now for rehabilitation and reconstruction. During the 22-day war, homes, schools, health clinics, roads, and water and sewage systems were destroyed or damaged and urgently require repairing. Shops and factories were also destroyed and farm land made unusable. As a result people also need help to be able to restart their livelihoods.
The Palestinian Authority has requested $2.8 billion for rebuilding Gaza. As part of our post-conflict plan, Islamic Relief hopes to reach around 700,000 people by providing:
- Food and nutrition
- Health
- Water and sanitation
- Shelter
- Sustainable livelihoods
- Psychosocial support
- Education
- Clean water
Food & Nutrition
During the conflict Islamic Relief distributed four truckloads of food, icluding rice,  flour, beans and tinned meat to hospitals and vulnerable families and 48,000kg of powdered milk for young children to help prevent malnutrition.
To date Islamic Relief has distributed food to 300,000 people at a cost of over £1 Million.
Water & Sanitation
The conflict destroyed much of Gaza’s water and sewage system. This has left hundreds of thousands of people with little or no access to clean, safe water. Rates of waterborne diseases are now on the rise. Islamic Relief is currently providing clean water to 70 schools in the coastal areas of Gaza. We are also rehabilitating agricultural wells in the north of the Gaza Strip to help farmers restart their agricultural activities.
Rubble Clearing
Most Gazans who lost their houses in the conflict are living with host families or have erected tents on the rubble of their former homes. These people face acute shortages of basic services such as  clean water and food, and they need to be provided with new homes as quickly as possible.
Before reconstruction in Gaza can start, the rubble left after the conflict must be removed. Islamic Relief is working to remove the rubble in the cities of Beit Lahiya, Beit Hanoun and Jabalia. We are using local workers to undertake this project, providing them with an essential source of income.
Healthcare
As a result of the conflict 16 hospitals and 38 health clinics in Gaza were seriously damaged. This is putting an additional strain on the health system which is still struggling to care for large numbers of injured people.
Islamic Relief is already repairing the emergency department at Al Nasir paediatric hospital. We hope to expand this support and rehabilitate other hospitals and clinics, as well as providing them with equipment and medication, in the coming months.
Psychosocial support
As well as repairing the infrastructure of Gaza, there is also a need to treat the hidden wounds of the population. 
The number of children suffering from mental health problems such as trauma and stress has increased dramatically since the start of the conflict. In response Islamic Relief is implementing a psychosocial programme in local communities and within schools.
This is benefitting more than 46,400 children by providing one-to-one and group counselling, extra-curricular activities such as drama and art, and support for parents to help them care for children affected by the trauma of war.
Education
Around 150 schools were damaged during the conflict and thousands of children are still unable to return to school.
Islamic Relief has already begun renovating 20 schools in the Gaza Strip and we will continue to work to ensure children can return to school as soon as possible.
Islamic Relief hopes to help more than 700,000 conflict affected Gazans over the coming months. The needs on the ground are great and there is still much more that needs to be done to help people rebuild their lives. The crisis is far from over.
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