can provide essential food aid to a family
helps build rehabilitation centers to serve children with disabilities and psychosocial support in Gaza
can help provide medical assistance in Gaza
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Gaza: Two Years Later
After two years of continued violence in Gaza, over half a million people now face catastrophic levels of starvation and another 1 million people are facing emergency levels of hunger, according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC). One in every three people are going days at a time without eating, with adults regularly skipping meals to feed their children.
To make matters worse, Gaza’s health system has been steadily unraveling before our eyes, deteriorating with each passing year — 36% of primary healthcare centers and 50% of hospitals have completely shut down, with most of those remaining only partially functional. Doctors are overwhelmed, patients go untreated, and entire communities lack access to even the most basic medical care.
At the same time, a total of 1.9 million people — 90% of the population — have now been forcibly displaced from their homes, most of them multiples times.
In response, thanks to donors like you, IRUSA has helped provide life-saving aid from medical care to clean water to emergency shelter items like tents to help families cope with this nightmarish reality.
Take a look at our reports below for more information!
Our Work
IRUSA has been working in Palestine for decades. Not only do we provide immediate emergency relief, but we work with our partners to implement long-term development programs that will help rebuild Palestine and bring hope to its people. Our efforts are expansive, covering nearly every sector IRUSA and its supporters have dedicated their time and energy to. This includes:
- Food aid
- Access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene
- Access to healthcare including psychosocial support and awareness for children and adults
- Access to education and support for orphans and children with disabilities
- Sustainable livelihood support including youth entrepreneurship and women empowerment efforts
- Emergency aid for families in Gaza
- Winter aid
Reports
Gallery | Videos
Media Gallery | Photos
THERE ARE MANY QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW WE GET AID INTO PALESTINE.
We hear you! So we want to let you know how our teams work on the ground to deliver your donations to the people in need.
How do you get supplies into Gaza when there’s a blockade?
The blockade of food and other supplies into Gaza is a major concern that many organizations are experiencing as they work to deliver humanitarian aid inside Palestine.
Local procurement is happening where possible,but largely, things are being brought in from outside based on whatever crossings are open at the time. The crossings and their openings constantly shift.
There are major delays in getting items through, but our partners are able to do so. IRUSA strongly supports the establishment of a permanent humanitarian corridor, which would allow the safe transit of humanitarian aid, to support the people of Palestine at this time.
How do you have access so fast?
IRUSA receives updates on the community’s immediate needs through partner organizations that have local staff and offices on the ground. We have a long and successful history of working through established local partnerships to deliver urgent support and implement development projects for Palestinians, including improving access to healthcare, psychosocial support, education, and livelihoods. Together, our response is that much stronger and wider in reach, especially when it is needed most.
Isn't it better to just send money directly through people who have family in Palestine?
During times of crisis and emergency, banks and monetary institutions are often impacted. This can prevent families from accessing banks and withdrawing funds. Humanitarian organizations have existing relationships with banks and available funds on reserve that they can access and utilize during such emergency crises to ensure a quick response.
Why is it a better option to give funds to humanitarian organizations instead?
Humanitarian organizations are able to assess needs on the ground on a wider scale, and in coordination with relevant actors (i.e. ministries and UN Clusters) to determine the best way to utilize funds as per the urgent needs on the ground. Humanitarian organizations also have standards they must maintain to ensure high-quality assistance is provided such as operating standards and quality of aid, while also ensuring there is no duplication so that every person can be reached equitably.
We heard that NGOs only spend collected funds after they find local partners and that can take a few months?
IRUSA already has active and ongoing relationships through its partners on the ground who maintain local offices and can quickly implement aid directly, especially during emergencies. When working with local partners, these relationships are already determined before a project is signed and before funds are transferred.
Is there a clear humanitarian need that big governments can’t deal with?
The humanitarian needs across Palestine are immense, with almost the entire population of Palestinians relying on humanitarian agencies to meet their basic needs. Unfortunately, big governments don’t provide enough assistance to reach all those in need and major cuts in funding in recent years have only made this worse.
How is IRUSA providing medical aid in Gaza if hospitals have been destroyed?
After two years of violence, Gaza’s health system has become severely deteriorated but few facilities remain operational at some capacity. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) 36% of primary healthcare centers and 50% of field hospitals are functioning with minimal resources and staff. Medical staff are extremely overwhelmed, patients have to wait many hours to be seen, if seen at all, and medical care and treatment is provided based on what’s available.
While many hospitals have been damaged or forced to close, a number of facilities and field clinics like Al Ahli Hospital remain partially functional. These facilities are still treating patients under extraordinary conditions. IRUSA works through trusted partners who have longstanding relationships with these facilities, enabling us to channel supplies, support, and funding to where it’s most needed.
Some medical supplies were prepositioned in Gaza before the most recent escalation. Since then, our partners have been able to bring in additional shipments whenever humanitarian convoys have been allowed to enter. Access is severely restricted and often delayed, but these limited openings make it possible to keep at least some clinics and hospitals operating.
How can we trust donations are delivered?
Transparency is our key value. That is why we post pictures, share videos, and, most importantly, we account for every dollar given through reports on our website and audits every single year.
*Currently, all funds collected for Palestine are supporting emergency efforts in Gaza due to the immense and immediate needs of families there.