Gaza Crisis Appeal

The humanitarian situation in Gaza is more catastrophic than ever right now. The killing of civilians in Gaza – including a devastating number of children - is unprecedented.

Over 5% of Gaza’s population has been killed, injured or is missing since the Israeli military offensive on Gaza began, following the Hamas attacks on October 7 2023.

More than 41,500 people have now been killed, with over 96,000 people injured and a further 10,000 missing.

90% of the people in Gaza have been displaced and are struggling to survive amid inhumane conditions and, 96% of the population are facing high levels of acute food insecurity.

Disease is spreading as a result of intense overcrowding and lack of clean water, sanitation and health facilities. Gaza’s healthcare system is near collapse. Only 17 of Gaza’s 36 hospitals are partially functional, and Israeli forces continue to target remaining health facilities. Around 180 women a day give birth amid unimaginable conditions, often without anaesthetic, in hospitals under fire.

More than 625,000 children in Gaza have been unable to go to school for a year, and 85% of school buildings have been destroyed.

Getting aid into Gaza remains extremely challenging and dangerous due to damaged infrastructure, limited fuel supplies and the threat of airstrikes, drones and artillery fire, as well as bureaucratic obstacles that delay the delivery of aid.

Despite these challenges, ActionAid and our local partners continue working to get essential supplies through to displaced families, prioritising food, medical items and hygiene kits.

So far we have been able to reach 236,950 people with humanitarian relief.

But there is still an urgent need to provide water and hygiene supplies, food, medicines, and as winter approaches, tents and blankets. Your donation can help us reach more families.

Gaza crisis appeal: how can I help?

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What is happening in Gaza right now?

Gaza is home to a population of over two million people who have been living under constant bombardment, with little to no essential aid deliveries for months. They are in urgent need of food, water, medicine and fuel.

Lack of shelter, food, water and the threat of waterborne diseases is causing a health catastrophe for hundreds of thousands of people and an alarming threat to the lives of pregnant and breastfeeding women and their newborn children.

Riham Jafari, Communication and Advocacy Coordinator at ActionAid in Palestine:

There can be no delay. The level of humanitarian need is already overwhelming and growing by the day – only a permanent ceasefire will allow for the killing of civilians to stop and aid on anything like the scale required to enter Gaza and reach those who need it.”

What is ActionAid doing to help?

ActionAid are working with our partners in Gaza who are doing their utmost to provide food, cash and relief items to families that we can reach, but access to supplies is limited and transportation to the shelters is challenging and dangerous for those who are working on the ground.  

So, we’re asking for your continued financial support, which is now needed more than ever, to help us deliver aid in the coming days and weeks.

We have reached approximately 236,960 people with humanitarian relief in Gaza. This number is expected to rise on a continuous basis following ongoing data collection with partners.
An additional 558,206 people have also been supported with healthcare services by our partner Al-Awda.
70,000 people have been given health or medical support at Al Nuseirat hospital and in Rafah.
Nearly 117,633 people have been reached in total with food including hot meals, chickens, eggs, food parcels and vegetable baskets.
27,458 people have been provided with water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services such as latrine facilities in Rafah.
9,650 people have received non-food items including 3,750 people who have received hygiene kits and 2,000 others supported with clothing in Rafah and Al Nuseirat.
5,500 children had access to education through Hope festivals in Rafah led by the humanitarian youth groups in Gaza.
2,130 people have been provided with shelter support, in Al Mawasi and Rafah, including tents, shade covers and tarpaulins.
4,150 women and children have been supported with protection services including interactive and wellbeing activities for children, and hotlines for women in Rafah and Khan Younis.
1,163 families in Gaza have received cash.
In the West Bank our partners are supporting people who have been internally displaced from Gaza. We've distributed dignity and winterisation kits across various districts. These include vital items like toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, shampoo, shaving gel, razors, wet wipes, deodorant and towels.

Is humanitarian aid getting through to Gaza?

Only very small amounts of aid are reaching Gaza - far too little to meet people's needs.

The ongoing Israeli military operation is directly impacting the ability of aid agencies to bring critical humanitarian supplies into Gaza as well as the ability to rotate humanitarian staff.

ActionAid staff have been procuring relief items including food, non-food essential items, hygiene and dignity kits for women and girls, and getting medical supplies ready to go.

The quantity of relief supplies we are able to distribute - when we can deliver aid safely - will largely depend on the amount of funds we’re able to raise.

Why we are not responding in Israel

The attacks committed on Israeli civilians were appalling. They have led to a spiral of violence affecting thousands of civilians across the region. ActionAid has called for an end to the violence and for the respect of international law which applies to all parties involved.

Our decision to respond in any crisis is always driven by humanitarian need— prioritising those people, in particular women and girls, most in need of assistance, whilst considering our ability and capacity and those of others, including states, to meet that need.

Even before this latest escalation, which is worsening on a daily basis, 80% of people living in Gaza relied on international aid following 16 years of blockade. Their coping capacities were stretched to the limit and beyond. Whilst there are humanitarian needs in Israel, our monitoring shows that the government and national and local aid organisations there are able to respond to these needs.

As a result, at this time our immediate focus is on responding to urgent unmet needs in Gaza and other affected parts of the occupied Palestinian territory. We continue to review this as the situation evolves.

ActionAid UK's chief executive, Halima Begum said:

Women and children are in critical need of safe shelter. While families want to return home, many have seen their houses completely destroyed and we have far too many vulnerable people still living in exposed spaces, without either security or protection.

The trauma and fear associated with the earthquake is also a huge impediment to the safe return of families. People here have experienced unimaginable tragedy and loss. Any recovery plan must include emotional support to help those affected by this disaster retrieve some degree of normality in their lives.

Of course, women and girls have very particular needs in emergencies that are far too often overlooked or forgotten, and we’re seeing this in Morocco now. In particular, access to period products and underwear is essential.

Much of the emergency response so far has focussed on food and temporary shelter, which are of course important. But the provision of period products would go a long way to help restore the dignity of women and girls still living in rudimentary and temporary shelters."

About ActionAid

ActionAid is an international charity that works with women and girls living in poverty.

Our dedicated local staff are changing the world with women and girls. We are ending violence and fighting poverty so that all women, everywhere, can create the future they want.

We operate in rural and urban communities across Asia, Africa and Latin America.

We're committed to ending the cycle of violence in communities around the world, enabling women's economic empowerment, and supporting women's and girls' rights during humanitarian crises.

Where your money goes

90% of your donation will go directly to ActionAid's Gaza Crisis Appeal.

10% of your donation will be retained for ActionAid’s Emergency Action Fund which will only be used for ensuring we are prepared and able to respond quickly and more effectively to future emergencies and crises.

If the total amount raised for this appeal exceeds the funds needed for the response, ActionAid will transfer the remaining balance to the Emergency Action Fund. All Gift Aid claimed on donations will fund ActionAid’s work across the world, wherever the need is greatest.