What is the situation on the ground in Gaza?
A temporary ceasefire will come into effect on Sunday, January 19, 2025, after nearly 500 days of destruction and death at the hands of Israel. Even as these negotiations entered the final stage, dozens more Palestinians have been killed in just the past 24 hours as Israeli bombs continued to rain down on shelters.
As of January 16, 2025, over 46,537 Palestinians have been killed, 109,571 injured, and 1.9 million displaced in the Gaza Strip. The death toll in Gaza could exceed 186,000, according to a study published in the journal Lancet.
Over 400 days into Israel’s war on Gaza:
- 10% of Gaza’s population is killed, injured, or missing
- An average of 131 Palestinians have died daily since October 7, 2023
- 86% of Gaza is under forced evacuation orders
- Nearly 85% of school buildings have been damaged
- 70% of water and sanitation facilities are significantly damaged
- 72% of Gaza’s housing units are damaged or destroyed
How much money has Islamic Relief spent in Gaza?
As a global family, Islamic Relief has been able to send $41M CAD into Gaza since the escalations began in October 2023. The money is transferred to our implementing partner Islamic Relief Worldwide in the United Kingdom, which is then transferred to Islamic Relief staff in Gaza through local partners.
Our staff in Gaza are using your donations to locally procure food, hygiene supplies, bedding, and any other essential item we can source. They screen and contract local suppliers and partners, who procure either locally or through private trading routes between Gaza and Egypt. With the level of our procurement, donations are routed through wire transfers to their Palestinian bank accounts.
How is Islamic Relief distributing aid in North Gaza?
The situation in North Gaza is catastrophic. Virtually no aid has entered the north since the beginning of October, threatening 500,000 Palestinians in the region with famine.
Despite these obstacles, Islamic Relief is continuing our daily work in North Gaza. Our team and partners are continuing to distribute items we previously stockpiled or could additionally procure while they await approval for the entry of more aid into North Gaza.
What is Islamic Relief doing with ongoing donations?
We continue to fund ongoing aid to address the immediate needs of entire communities in Gaza, with some examples listed in the previous section.
In Ramadan, we distributed hot iftar meals to families in need. These meals consisted of nutritious and culturally appropriate food items, ensuring that recipients could break their fast in a dignified manner.
During Dhul Hijjah, our Qurbani in Gaza prioritized sourcing high-quality animals in Egypt and completing the sacrifice there, before freezing the meat and transporting it for distribution in Gaza. Your Qurbani sacrifice has reached 118,710 people in Gaza.
For the additional funds that are coming in and those we are unable to use at the moment, we are assessing opportunities to invest in long-term development programming, including rebuilding efforts. Sustainable development programming is just as vital as providing emergency relief, so your donations will be used to uplift communities.
If supplies are running out, how is Islamic Relief procuring them?
Prices in Gaza have surged dramatically, often experiencing markups of 100-300% above normal rates. Supplies, though limited, are available but at a cost unaffordable to most. But this is where your donation makes the biggest difference! Your donations allow our team on the ground to secure essential items from local markets and suppliers and make them available to the people of Gaza – despite the limited supplies and surge in prices.
Most of our current interventions have relied on local procurement, but also procurement through border crossings. We are also sourcing other essential items locally. For example, Islamic Relief recently installed locally sourced and constructed portable toilets in Rafah. The initiative was part of our efforts to address urgent sanitation needs in the area.
Despite the obstacles, we remain committed to ensuring that critical aid reaches those in need in Gaza.
What long-term projects do we have planned?
In the current context, we primarily focus on addressing the need for immediate and life-saving support. Once the ceasefire comes into effect, our team will provide long-term development support including rehabilitating medical and educational facilities, providing employment opportunities, financial grants, and more.
We will likely extend our current psychosocial support programming for children to include entire families, focus on providing tailored therapy and care, and expand on recreational activities.
What areas is Islamic Relief working in?
Islamic Relief is presently active in Rafah, Khan Younis, Deir Al Balah, Zawayda, and North Gaza.
Our emergency response efforts are being conducted in collaboration with local partners: one operating in the Middle Area, another serving Rafah and Khan Younis, and two partners distributing hot meals in North Gaza. Each partner is assigned Islamic Relief staff to oversee project implementation.
I have family in Gaza, why can't you help them?
We understand the desire to direct aid to specific individuals, however, to maintain equal access, we are unable to fulfill such requests. We consistently work to diversify our distribution points, ensuring that aid reaches as many people as possible.
It is important to note that no person will be denied aid at our distributions; however, our commitment to equity drives us to prioritize equal access for all. Our focus remains on supporting shelters to the best of our ability and providing assistance through our local partners.
