can provide essential food aid to a family
can help provide water solutions for families suffering from thirst
can supply essential medical aid to help those suffering from disease
Enter Amount
COVID-19 Affects Grip Gaza
Communities in Gaza are suffering even more from supply chain disruptions caused by Covid-19. Islamic Relief is working alongside community partners to ensure that families have necessities to be able to survive this winter. By implementing programs such as emergency food projects, water system development, and livelihood training for vulnerable women, IRUSA helps the Palestinian people to progress.
Fighting to Survive for Nearly a Century
Decades of political instability have stifled economic development across Palestine. Most Palestinians, living inside the territories and living as refugees in neighboring regions, depend on international aid for survival. According to the World Food Program, well over 1 million people in Palestine are food insecure, including nearly half of Gaza’s population. Food expenses easily consume a majority of an impoverished family’s budget. Work options are extremely limited: Unemployment is close to 20% in the West Bank and a devastating 42% in Gaza.
In addition, continued violence throughout Palestine severely affects the most vulnerable section of the population: children, many of whom suffer from psychological trauma.
With all this considered, one thing remains clear: The people of Palestine are resilient and, with the support of donors like you, families in need there can access opportunities to break the chains of poverty and move toward success.
Islamic Relief’s Dedication to Palestine
Islamic Relief started working in Palestine in 1994 and soon after, Islamic Relief Palestine opened its office in 1998 so long-term development projects could be implemented and overseen by people in the field.
For decades, our legacy in the country has grown to help hundreds of thousands of people every year with programs that provide livelihood support for farmers, help vulnerable children, and more. With your continued support, IRUSA can provide more relief for people in need.
Here’s just a sampling of recent efforts for Palestinian families in need
- Supporting vocational training programs
- Delivering urgent food aid to families in need
- Working to install clean water systems
Download Middle East Donor Report (updated: May 2020)Our reach across Palestine, 2017-2019
1,077,000+ PEOPLE SERVED
24 PROJECTS IMPLEMENTED
We Need YOUR Help
As much as we’ve been able to accomplish, there is still so much more to do. If we work together—with YOU—we can make the vision of a better Palestine a reality for so many more of our sisters and brothers in need.
$1,000 can help build innovative water and sanitation facilities
$250 can distribute life-saving medical aid to those suffering from disease
$50 can provide vital food packages to families suffering from starvation
PLEASE NOTE: Donations made to IRUSA’s Palestine fund may serve urgent or long-term programs in Palestine or for Palestinian refugees in other countries.
Stories from the Ground
Saif Finds Work
Saif graduated at the top of his class in the software engineering department at Al-Azhar University in Gaza. For four months, he searched for a job.
His odds were slim: Jobs are scarce in Gaza, especially for young adults. Gaza’s youth unemployment rate is among the highest in the world at 58%.
He never landed an interview — not even a single reply.
“Staying at home doing nothing makes you feel worthless,” he said.
When he saw an announcement for a job skills program offered by IRUSA and Palestine Education for Employment, he knew that would be a good use of his time. The training focuses on practical skills that teach graduates the soft skills necessary to find and keep a job, as well as a component focusing on skills for working online.
Through this program, Saif took classes in Virtual Jobs, Project Management, and Sales. He began to understand that his good grades weren’t enough, and he recognized the weaknesses in his previous applications.
“Many aspects of my CV and cover letter needed development,” he said. With the help of the trainers, Saif was able to fix them and practice new skills, hands-on. He applied for another position as teaching assistant at Al-Azhar University — and he got the job.