Gaza and West Bank Response Log
by Anera
In this log, Anera will provide updates on unfolding war in Palestine and our response. Please stay tuned here for the latest information.
November 27, 2023
Today, Anera’s Gaza team provided 27,500 hot meal servings to displaced people at UN shelters in Rafah, Khan Younis and the middle area. They also delivered fresh produce baskets with enough food to make 92,400 meals. And Anera’s cleaners serviced 10 UN shelters.
And we conducted psychosocial support activities today at five UN shelters with ~550 children participating in the activities which included competitive games and ball games.
November 26, 2023
Yesterday, the Israeli military intensified pressure on northern residents to evacuate southward along Salah Ad Deen Road between 9 am and 4 pm. Simultaneously, they prohibited movement from south to north. The UN estimated fewer than 400 people using the designated “corridor,” where Israeli forces reportedly established an unstaffed checkpoint. Read the latest flash update from the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
🚚 Six trucks came through the Rafah border, including rice, water, bread stoves, aluminum pans, and canned meats. Three trucks containing food went immediately to UN shelters in the north and Gaza City. The remaining three trucks went to Anera’s Khan Younis warehouse to be used for making meals. The supplies and trucks came through World Central Kitchen, our primary partner in food relief efforts.
Today, Anera’s Gaza team provided 26,500 hot meal servings to displaced people at UN shelters in Rafah, Khan Younis and the middle area. They also delivered fresh produce baskets with enough food to make 92,400 meals. And Anera’s cleaners serviced 10 UN shelters.
And we conducted psychosocial support activities today at four UN shelters with ~350 children participating in the activities which included competitive games and ball games.
November 25, 2023
Today, we distributed 11,500 meat-based hot meals serving 23,000 people, with 4,500 of these going to UN shelters in Rafah, 5,000 to shelters in Khan Younis, and 2,000 to the middle area. We also distributed 1,500 kebab meals in Khan Younis, serving 4,500 people. In total, our hot meals today served 27,500 people.
We also delivered 2,100 fresh produce baskets in UN shelters in Khan Younis, middle area, and Rafah, which is enough to provide produce for 92,400 meals.
And we conducted psychosocial support activities today at three UN shelters with about 300 children participating in the activities which included competitive games and ball games.
We continue to clean 10 UN school shelters each day.
November 24, 2023
A four-day pause in hostilities commenced at 7:00 AM in Gaza. Bombing continued up until the moment of the ceasefire. Read the latest flash update from the UN Office of Humanitarian Affairs.
Anera’s amazing Gaza team distributed enough hot meat-based meals to serve 29,500 displaced people in UN shelters across Rafah, Khan Younis and the middle area. They also delivered, in the same areas, enough fresh produce for 92,400 meal servings. And the cleaners serviced 10 UN shelters.
November 23, 2023
Anera welcomes the news of a pause in hostilities for the distribution of desperately needed humanitarian relief in Gaza. Over the four-day period, we will work around the clock to distribute as much aid as possible to the people whose lives have been devastated by this unprecedented bombing campaign. This pause also marks the first time in the last 47 days that our staff in Gaza can mobilize resources without fearing for their lives.
But a four-day pause will not come close to solving the problems wrought by seven weeks of incessant bombings. More than 45% of Gaza’s housing units are either destroyed or severely damaged, nearly 40% of schools have sustained damage, and 26 of the 33 medical facilities across Gaza are non-operational. The inflicted damage will require years, if not decades, for reconstruction.
As long as the war continues, even with a brief respite, providing the people of Gaza with the resources and humanitarian aid within their human rights will continue to be an insurmountable challenge. Anything short of a permanent ceasefire cannot be called a successful humanitarian outcome.
Read Anera’s full statement on the temporary ceasefire.
The Gaza team distributed enough meat-based meals to serve 29,000 displaced people in UN shelters across the southern half of Gaza. They also delivered enough fresh produce to make 92,400 meals. And the cleaners serviced 10 UN shelters.
🚚 One World Central Kitchen truck, carrying tuna, successfully arrived at our Khan Younis distribution center. Total trucks received from WCK to date is 15.
The team facilitated psychosocial activities in two UN shelters in Khan Younis, with some 200 children participating in activities, including singing, and fun group competitions.
November 22, 2023
The Gaza team today distributed enough meat-based hot meals to serve 43,500 displaced people in shelters across Rafah, Khan Younis and the middle area. They also delivered, in the same areas, enough fresh produce to make 92,400 meals. And the cleaners serviced 10 UN shelters (read the Telegraph article about our cleaning initiative).
🚚Five World Central Kitchen trucks successfully arrived at Anera’s distribution center in Khan Younis: four carrying beans and one carrying tuna. The total number of WCK trucks received to date is 14.
The team facilitated psychosocial activities in two UN shelters in Khan Younis, with some 350 children participating in activities including ball play and fun races.
November 21, 2023
🚚Three World Central Kitchen trucks came in today carrying tuna, beans, and mixed canned vegetables. They are currently in Anera’s Khan Younis distribution center, being readied for distribution. So far, we have received nine trucks with food from WCK and , on November 3rd, one truck of healthcare supplies Anera procured and shipped from Jordan (with the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization).
Our amazing Gaza team today distributed enough meat meals to serve 39,000 people in UN shelters across Rafah, Khan Younis, and the middle area. They also delivered enough fresh produce for 92,400 meal servings
Since October 20, Anera has engaged in comprehensive cleaning efforts at UN shelters in Khan Younis, each housing thousands of displaced people. Our team in Gaza works with a reputable cleaning agent associated with UNRWA. That company employs individuals from the shelters, providing them with a daily wage. The initiative includes the purchase of cleaning supplies such as bleach and mops, as well as tasks like trash removal, bathroom disinfection, and cleaning of common spaces. Cleaners work around the clock in 24-hour shifts. The cleaning team systematically moves from one shelter to another, 10 per day, to make conditions less uncomfortable and to ensure diseases are less likely to spread. Today, as usual, the cleaners serviced 10 UN shelters.
Anera provided psychosocial services for six schools, providing fun activities for children and group meetings for mothers.
November 20, 2023
Yesterday, according to the UNOCHA’s flash appeal update (#44), 69,000 liters of fuel entered Gaza from Egypt. UNRWA is set to distribute the fuel to support food distribution and operate generators at vital facilities, including hospitals, water and sanitation facilities, shelters, and other critical services. On the same day, UNRWA and UNICEF distributed 19,500 liters of fuel to water and sanitation facilities in the south of Wadi Gaza, enabling them to operate for about 24 hours. However, in the north of Wadi Gaza, all water and sanitation facilities are presumed to be shut down, and no bottled water distribution has occurred since the start of Israeli ground operations on October 28, raising serious concerns about dehydration and waterborne diseases.
On November 15, 2023, Anera began providing psychosocial activities for children in partnership with the NAFS for Empowerment, a local psychological and social counseling organization. Some 1,400 children, 4-13 years old, at six school shelters are participating. The daily sessions are led by 20 trainers guiding them through self-expression exercises, art activities and play. Mothers at all of the shelters participated in their own group sessions as well.
A truck from World Central Kitchen, our partner in providing food relief, came into Gaza today delivering yeast and canned vegetables, which Anera will soon distribute.
Today, the Gaza team distributed enough food, in the form of meat-based hot meals and fresh produce, to provide 113,000 meal servings to displaced families in UN shelters in Rafah, Khan Younis and the middle area. And Anera’s cleaners serviced 10 shelters in Khan Younis.
November 19, 2023
The Gaza team distributed enough meat-based hot meals to serve 26,900 displaced people in shelters in Rafah, Khan Younis and the middle area. They delivered enough fresh produce in the middle area, Rafah and Khan Younis to make 92,400 meals. They distributed 1,000 hygiene kits to hosting families and UN shelters in the middle area. They delivered 1,000 food parcels to displaced people seeking refuge at two churches. And Anera’s cleaners serviced 10 shelters in Khan Younis.
November 18, 2023
With cold weather and rain storms predicted for tomorrow, the suffering in Gaza will reach new levels of terrible. The war, likely to soon be the bloodiest in the 75-year Israeli-Palestinian conflict, has brought unprecedented challenges over the past 42 days. The arrival of the rainy season now compounds the misery displaced families are experiencing. Read the post for more information.
Our Gaza team today delivered enough food today, in the form of meat-based hot dishes and fresh produce, to provide 101,400 meals to displaced families in Rafah, Khan Younis and the middle area. They also distributed 1,000 hygiene kits in a Khan Younis shelter. And our contracted cleaners serviced 10 shelters in Khan Younis.
November 17, 2023
Late yesterday afternoon, telecommunications service providers in Gaza shut down due to the exhaustion of fuel for their generators. And, on November 14, some communications infrastructure south of Wadi Gaza suffered bomb damage. These blackouts pose risks to the safety of civilians and hinder the delivery of crucial life-saving aid.
Despite the communications blackout in Gaza, Anera staff in Gaza were able to distribute 15,000 meat-based meal servings in Rafah and the middle area and 21,000 fish-based meal servings in Khan Younis. They also distributed, in all three areas, enough fresh produce to make 88,000 meals. Our cleaning contractors serviced 10 shelters in Khan Younis.
November 16, 2023
According to UNOCHA, yesterday, 23,000 liters of fuel entered Gaza from Egypt, the first such delivery since 7 October. The Israeli authorities have restricted the use of this fuel only to use for UNRWA trucks distributing aid. The entry of fuel for all other purposes remains banned.
Of the 24 hospitals in the north, only one remains operational, with 18 shutting down and evacuating due to hostilities. Five hospitals, including Shifa, provide limited services to existing patients but lack accessibility, electricity, and supplies. Israeli forces entered Shifa, disrupting operations and interrogating individuals. The Palestine Red Crescent Society can’t respond to numerous calls for assistance. Read the latest flash update on Gaza from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
Today, the Gaza team distributed enough meat- and fish-based hot meals to serve 33,000 displaced people at UN shelters in Rafah and Khan Younis. They also delivered enough fresh produce in Khan Younis, the middle area and Rafah, which is enough to produce 70,400 meals.
The team distributed 1,000 hygiene kits to school shelters in Rafah and 500 family kits to hosting families in the middle area. And the cleaning service continued its daily rotation to 10 UN shelters in Khan Younis.
November 15, 2023
Under the supervision of Anera’s staff, six trucks from World Central Kitchen have successfully entered Gaza carrying flour and green beans.
The Gaza team distributed enough meat- and fish-based hot meals to serve 35,400 displaced people in UN shelters across Rafah, Khan Younis and the middle area. They delivered enough fresh produce at UN schools in Khan Younis, Rafah and middle area, to make 88,000 meals. And the cleaning service continued its daily rotation to 10 UN shelters in Khan Younis.
The team is also in the process of packaging 5,000 food parcels, containing enough food to make 50,000 meals. Distribution of the parcels is scheduled in the next couple days.
November 14, 2023
Yesterday, the two main United Nations organizations responding in Gaza, the Relief and Works Agency and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs declared that their final fuel reservoir had been exhausted, resulting in the cessation of the assistance they have been providing in Gaza. This depletion will intensify the existing humanitarian crisis to unimaginable levels. Read the alert that the Association of International Development Agencies (AIDA) issued.
There are still hundreds of thousands of people in the northern governorates. They have received little aid since the evacuation orders were first ordered on October 13. OCHA reports that they are struggling to get enough water and food to stay alive. Many are drinking water from unsafe sources, which can lead to a slew of waterborne diseases.
Anera signed this joint open letter on the transfer of 155mm artillery shells to Israel.
We received today in Gaza two trucks from our partner, World Central Kitchen. This is the first of many trucks that will come in through Egypt. The contents are food aid.
Anera’s amazing Gaza team distributed enough meat- and fish-based hot meals to provide 35,600 servings for displaced people in Rafah, Khan Younis and the middle area. They also delivered enough fresh produce to provide 74,800 meal servings. And the cleaning team continued rotations to 10 UN shelters in Khan Younis.
November 13, 2023
Attacks around Shifa Hospital in Gaza City increased on the afternoon of November 11. Important facilities like the oxygen station, water tanks, cardiovascular facility, and maternity ward were damaged. Three nurses died. Some, including displaced people and hospital staff, escaped, but others remain trapped inside due to fear or physical limitations. Read the latest flash update from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
Today, Anera’s Gaza team distributed enough meat-based hot meals to serve 15,800 displaced people in UN shelters in Rafah, Khan Younis and the middle area. They distributed enough fish-based meals to serve 15,000 in Khan Younis. And, they also delivered enough fresh produce to make 66,000 meals in Khan Younis, the middle area, and Rafah. And, Anera’s cleaners serviced 10 UN shelters in Khan Younis today.
November 12, 2023
Anera’s Gaza team distributed enough meat- and fish-based hot meals to serve 39,200 displaced people at UN shelters in Rafah, the middle area, and Khan Younis. They delivered enough fresh produce in Khan Younis, the middle area, and Rafah to make 66,000 meals. They also completed the distribution of women and baby kits to UN shelters in Rafah, an initiative funded by Muslim Aid USA. And, Anera’s cleaners serviced 10 UN shelters in Khan Younis today.
November 11, 2023
From one of our colleagues in Gaza: “I am very lucky today because I succeeded in buying 25 kilos of flour after several days of searching. The price is not doubled, but quadrupled! It is really difficult now to find some essential food items in southern Gaza because of the huge numbers of displaced people.”
Our health team in Gaza received recordings from a doctor inside of Shifa Hospital. Listen to his report.
Today, Anera’s Gaza team distributed enough meat- and fish-based hot meals to serve 32,000 displaced people at UN shelters in Rafah, the middle area, and Khan Younis. They also delivered enough fresh produce in Khan Younis, the middle area, and Rafah to make 66,000 meals.
With support from Muslim Aid, Anera began distributing 1,000 women and baby kits to UN shelters in Rafah. These kits are specifically curated to cater to the diverse needs of families, with a particular focus on providing essential supplies for babies. The kits include crucial items such as baby milk powder, baby food, rice formula, and baby diapers. They also include hygiene essentials such as tissues, menstrual pads, shampoo, and soap.
Anera’s cleaners serviced 10 UN shelters in Khan Younis today.
November 10, 2023
On November 9th, more than 50,000 people evacuated from the north of Wadi Gaza, through a corridor designated by the Israeli military. OCHA monitors interviewed the displaced as they fled and most indicated that they did not know where they would spend the night. The UN has opened two new shelters in the south of Gaza, but every shelter is overcrowded. UN facilities are reporting an average of 160 people sharing each toilet and 700 people sharing each shower unit. Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of residents still in the northern areas are trying to get enough water and food to survive.
Read the UN Office of Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs full flash update from November 9.
The Gaza team today distributed enough meat- and fish-based hot meals to serve 62,000 displaced people in Rafah, Khan Younis and the middle area. They also delivered enough fresh produce to make 88,000 meals. Anera’s cleaners serviced 10 UN shelters in Khan Younis today.
November 9, 2023
There are 864,000 displaced Gazans in overcrowded shelters that are ill-equipped to house so many people. (In just the past few days, some 65,000 people have fled south on foot, but shelters in the south do not have the space to accommodate the new arrivals.) UNOCHA reports that every toilet is shared by 160 people on average at UN shelters. To mitigate the spread of disease and prevent unsanitary conditions from worsening, Anera has been cleaning five shelters in Khan Younis, on a rotating basis, every day. Today, we have increased that number to 10 shelters daily.
Today, our amazing Gaza team distributed enough fish and meat based hot meals to serve 31,000 displaced people in Rafah, the middle area, and Khan Younis. They also delivered enough fresh produce to provide 77,000 meals. And finally, our staff was able to put together and distribute 1,000 food parcels with enough food for 16,000 meals.
November 8, 2023
Read our new blog post –> Gaza’s Water Crisis Puts Thousands at Risk of Preventable Death.
Anera’s Gaza team distributed hot meals, fish and meat based, to serve 61,000 people in shelters in Khan Younis, the middle area and Rafah. They also delivered to the same locations enough fresh produce to make 77,000 meals. As part of our ongoing efforts to maintain hygiene, Anera’s cleaners serviced five UN shelters.
November 7, 2023
Today and yesterday, Anera hosted medical days in Khan Younis, offering a range of free services, including medical examinations, dental care, dermatological care, pediatric care, general medicine, and nursing care, including wound dressings. Anera also supplied patients with medications such as analgesics to relieve pain, antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, prenatal vitamins for women, gynecologic medications, and antifungal medication. The last is especially crucial during this time as fungal infections are on the rise among displaced individuals due to inadequate hygiene practices. The activity today was for women, while the one yesterday was for men. An estimated 1,000 displaced individuals attended. Read more.
Today, our remarkable Gaza team distributed the largest number of meals yet, despite enormous challenges. They successfully distributed a significant number of meals and provided essential support to those in need. They delivered to shelters in Khan Younis, Rafah and the middle area with enough meat and fish-based hot meals to provide 54,500 servings. Our Gaza staff also delivered, in the same locations, enough fresh produce to make 77,000 meals.
As part of our ongoing efforts to maintain hygiene, we continued our cleaning service at five UN shelters.
November 6, 2023
Anera’s Gaza staff distributed enough hot food to provide meals to 55,000 people in UN shelters across Khan Younis, the middle area and Rafah. Some of the meals were meat-based and some were fish. The team also provided enough fresh produce to make 66,000 meals. Distributions were to shelters in the middle area, Khan Younis, and Rafah. Anera’s cleaning service also continued at five UN shelters in Khan Younis.
Our health staff in Gaza today distributed a shipment of healthcare supplies we purchased in Jordan and brought through the Rafah border. The supplies were distributed very fast, to Palestinian Red Crescent branches, because they are in great demand. Items included syringes, bandages and IV solutions – all critical for treating wounds.
November 5, 2023
Our Gaza team distributed 500 hygiene kits designed especially for women in Rafah shelters. They contain items like menstrual pads that are critical for maintaining some level of comfort and dignity in profoundly difficult circumstances.
They also distributed hot meals, some with meat and some with fish, with enough food to serve 65,000 people. The food went to families sheltering in Rafah and Khan Younis. And the team provided enough fresh produce to make 66,000 meals. One-third went to the middle area, one-third to Khan Younis, and one-third to Rafah.
Anera’s cleaning teams continued their rotating service among the shelters in Khan Younis.
November 4, 2023
Anera’s staff in Gaza report that the situation is extremely dire, leaving them despondent as supplies dwindle. Hopelessness prevails as bombings devastate schools and hospitals, resulting in horrific deaths and injuries. Many in Gaza fear that Israel’s actions will lead to the complete destruction of everything.
In the past few days, tens of thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) have moved from staying with host families to public shelters in search of food and basic services. This has added strain to already overcrowded shelters. Currently, more than 530,000 people are taking refuge in 92 UN facilities in the Middle, Khan Younis, and Rafah regions. These shelters have surpassed their capacity and cannot accommodate newcomers, leading to many IDPs resorting to sleeping in the vicinity of the shelters for safety. Read the latest update from the UN Office of Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
The Gaza team distributed meat-based hot meals, with 40,000 servings, to shelters in Rafah and Khan Younis. The team also provided enough fresh produce for 65,000 meals to the middle area, Khan Younis, and Rafah. Anera’s cleaning teams continued to service five UN shelters in Khan Younis. They rotate to different shelters every day.
November 3, 2023
Today, Anera delivered into Gaza our first external shipment of aid since the start of the war on October 7. The shipment, sent in partnership with the Jordan Hashemite Charitable Organization and with the support of Americares, arrived through the Rafah crossing. The 14-pallet shipment, containing approximately 153,920 treatments, is part of the response to the dire healthcare situation resulting from the scarcity of medicines and medical supplies due to the war. Anera is now working with the UN and the Palestine Medical Relief Society to immediately deliver the shipment to key hospitals in Gaza that remain operational. Read the full press release.
Our Gaza team today distributed hot meals with enough food to feed 57,000 displaced people in UN shelters across Khan Younis, and Rafah. The meals are meat-based and fish-based. Gaza staff also distributed 1,500 fresh produce bundles to the middle area, Khan Younis, and Rafah. The bundles contain enough produce, picked directly from farms, to prepare 66,000 meals. We continue to re-clean five shelters a day in Khan Younis.
Our Gaza colleagues are determined to deliver food aid to overlooked and hard-to-reach populations of displaced individuals in Gaza City and further north. Over the last 48 hours, movement in the area has been exceptionally risky due to ground operations. However, after overcoming numerous challenges, and through careful coordination, our team managed to provide food aid to 1,250 displaced and hosting families in these areas. This courageous effort has provided food sufficient to supply 37,500 meals.
November 2, 2023
Anera moved 14 pallets of healthcare supplies from Jordan to El Arish Airport in Egypt. The shipment contains IV solutions, syringes, gauze, bandages, surgical gloves, catheters, and stents. Anera’s Jordan staff locally procured the items and has worked with the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization (JHCO) to store and ship them. The Egyptian Red Crescent will transport the items to the border with Gaza for distribution to over-burdened, over-crowded hospitals struggling to treat those wounded in the war. This shipment provides items specifically requested by Gaza healthcare responders.
Anera moved 14 pallets of healthcare supplies from Jordan to El Arish Airport in Egypt. The shipment contains IV solutions, syringes, gauze, bandages, surgical gloves, catheters, and stents. Anera’s Jordan staff locally procured the items and has worked with the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization (JHCO) to store and ship them. The Egyptian Red Crescent will transport the items to the border with Gaza for distribution to over-burdened, over-crowded hospitals struggling to treat those wounded in the war. This shipment provides items specifically requested by Gaza healthcare responders.
Despite regular airstrikes and low stocks of supplies, our colleagues in Gaza managed to procure enough food for 1,250+ parcels and send them UN shelters and hosting families in Gaza City and North Gaza. Each parcel has enough food to feed a family of five for six days.
Anera’s Gaza team today distributed hot meals with enough food to feed 50,000 displaced people in UN shelters across Khan Younis, and Rafah. The meals are meat-based and fish-based. Anera purchases daily the fish fresh from fish farms, thereby supporting their livelihoods, while providing very healthy meals. Gaza staff also distributed 1,500 fresh produce bundles to the middle area, Khan Younis, and Rafah. The bundles contain enough produce, picked directly from farms, to prepare 66,000 meals.
We continue to re-clean five shelters a day in Khan Younis.
For the first time since the war began, our Gaza team distributed 500 hygiene kits designed especially for women in Khan Younis shelters. They contain items like menstrual pads that are critical for maintaining some level of comfort and dignity in profoundly difficult circumstances.
November 1, 2023
Yesterday and today, the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza has been bombed with heavy airstrikes. The camp is densely populated and, though the casualty numbers are not yet fully known, the toll on civilians is tragic.
The director of the Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital, the only hospital treating cancer patients in Gaza, reports that the hospital has closed down after running out of fuel and being damaged in bombings. Anera has long supported the work of this vital healthcare facility and the vulnerable patients who rely on it for their lives.
Our amazing Gaza team continues to deliver. Today, they distributed enough hot meals to feed 50,000 displaced people in UN shelters across Khan Younis and Rafah. They provided enough fresh produce in the middle area, Khan Younis, and Rafah for 66,000 meals. Also, they delivered parcels with enough food for 30,000 meals to shelters in Rafah.
Today, the Gaza team took a significant step to address the often overlooked needs of women during times of war. With support from Global Empowerment Mission, Anera has prepared 1,250 menstrual hygiene kits for distribution to UN shelters in Khan Younis. These kits are packed with essentials such as shampoo, soap, brushes, nail clippers, menstrual pads, wipes, sanitizer, deodorant, and vital undergarments for women. Anera is working closely with UNRWA to ensure the delivery of the kits tomorrow.
October 31, 2023
On 30 October, significant Israeli ground operations within Gaza continued for the fourth consecutive day, alongside intense bombardments…For the second consecutive day, the vicinities of two hospitals in Gaza City and northern Gaza have reportedly been bombarded, resulting in damage. All 13 hospitals that are still operational in these areas have received repeated Israeli evacuation orders in recent days. Thousands of patients and medical staff, as well as about 117,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs), are staying in these facilities. For more details on the situation, read the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs 24th Flash Update.
Today, Anera’s Gaza team distributed fish-based hot meals, feeding 15,000 people in Khan Younis UN shelters and 15,000 in Rafah UN shelters. The team distributed food parcels today to UN shelters in Rafah, with enough food for 30,000 meals. And, finally, they distributed 1,500 fresh produce baskets, with 500 going to the middle area, 500 to Rafah, and 500 to Khan Younis. The produce provides enough food for 66,000 meals.
October 30, 2023
The crisis continues to intensify, along with the Israeli ground, air and naval assault. Resources across Gaza are disappearing and starvation is becoming a serious concern. Unless the situation changes dramatically, the efforts of Anera and other organizations can scarcely begin to address the food needs. People are becoming more desperate and agitated and rumors quickly swirl. Safe drinking water remains extremely scarce. Illnesses like Helicobacter pylori bacterial infections from drinking polluted water are increasingly common. The absence of fuel inhibits distribution of whatever resources are available.
Today, we distributed a total of 8,000 hot meals packages that contain three servings each. Families at UN Shelters in Khan Younis received 5,000 packages, and another 3,000 went to displaced people at UN shelters in Rafah. In total, we distributed 24,000 servings of fish meals today. Unfortunately, our team in Gaza weren’t able to provide meat-based meals today as the supplies are running low.
We also distributed 1,500 fresh produce baskets, allocating 500 to the Middle Area, 500 to Rafah, and 500 to Khan Younis. This produce provides the raw ingredients for up to 66,000 meals.
October 29, 2023
Today we were finally able to speak with our Gaza team again for the first time in over 30 hours, as telecommunications services have been partially restored in Gaza.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza is becoming more and more dire every day. The scarcity of fuel and supplies are forcing many life-saving aid operations in Gaza to significantly curtail operations.
We are continually assessing the security of our staff and our ability to operate. Along with the bombardment and complete collapse of services, as people grow more desperate civil unrest may pose a security risk when distributing food.
Anera continues to track the evolving humanitarian crisis on a daily basis, addressing the urgent needs where possible. As food supplies continue to diminish, we are stepping up our efforts by expanding our daily distribution of hot meals.
Today, we distributed a total of 18,000 hot meals, which included 8,000 fish meals and 10,000 meat meals. We also distributed 1,500 fresh produce baskets to the Middle Area, Rafah, and Khan Younis. This supply of produce provides support for up to 66,000 meals.
We continue to clean five UN shelters each day in Khan Younis to help maintain clean and safe conditions for displaced people seeking refuge.
October 28, 2023
Last night marked one of the darkest nights for our family in Gaza —both figuratively and literally. With no fuel and electricity, the situation has already grown even more dire. Adding to the already catastrophic circumstances, yesterday, Gaza experienced a complete telecommunications blackout further isolating them from the world as the ongoing bombardment intensified.
Despite these dire circumstances, we were shocked and very happy to see that some of our team members managed to regain internet access through alternative telecommunication carriers, sidestepping the Palestinian network. They contacted us in the morning and let us know they are all ok.
Also, to our surprise, our tireless heroes are on the ground right now delivering 24,000 servings of fish meals to the UN shelters in Rafah and the Middle area, along with 20,000 servings of meat meals to UN schools in Khan Younis. In total, 44,000 servings of hot meals were distributed.
In addition to these efforts, we are distributing 1,500 fresh produce baskets today, with 500 going to the Middle, 500 to Rafah, and 500 to Khan Younis. This provides enough supply of produce to support 66,000 meals.
October 27, 2023
Statement on Telecommunications Blackout in Gaza – 6:00pm ET
We have lost all communication with our Anera Gaza staff members. Most with connections in Gaza have lost complete contact with loved ones and colleagues, as destruction has impacted landline, cellular and internet services. As of this morning, our staff were all accounted for, but this is no longer a guarantee. Over the past 21 days, our 12-member team in Gaza has worked tirelessly to provide for their community by serving meals, delivering medicines to hospitals, and sanitizing shelters to prevent disease spread. While we were never able to properly ensure their safety during this unprecedented bombing campaign, we were always able to verify their locations and provide what little protection we could for them. That is now gone.
Equally important, essential services such as ambulance dispatches, hospital communications and rescue operations cannot communicate with one another. Even if medical and aid workers can reach those in need there is no way to confirm where they can be taken to provide life-saving care. We only expect these essential services to become even more vital as we receive reports of a potential ground incursion into the northern areas of Gaza.
This total blackout comes as Gaza’s health and water sectors have collapsed. Without fuel and due to damage from airstrikes, hospitals and healthcare clinics across Gaza have already been forced to shut down or severely reduce their services. Doctors are making horrifying decisions as to which of their emergency patients they can realistically treat. In Shifa, Gaza’s largest hospital, doctors reported days ago that the hospital is well over capacity, serving some 5,000 patients when it was originally designed to serve 700 people at a time. This number has surely risen. Medical staff are providing treatment and performing operations on the floors and in hallways, often without anesthesia or proper equipment and sanitation. The hospital is also hosting around 50,000 internally displaced persons. And now, today, we are horrified to hear increasing calls to evacuate and bomb Shifa Hospital.
Anera calls for an immediate ceasefire, as UN members have now called for, and the protection of civilians and the humanitarians who care for them, in the medical and broader aid fields. We ask you to join us in demanding an end to this decimation of life and humanity and to allow life-saving humanitarian aid into Gaza. Please, now more than ever, people in Gaza need your support.
– Sandra Rasheed
Anera Palestine Country Director
Our Gaza team distributed a total of 41,000 servings of hot meals today. Specifically, they allocated 21,000 servings of fish and rice meals to UN shelters in Khan Younis and Rafah, while the remaining 20,000 servings of meat and rice meals were distributed to UN shelters in Khan Younis.
In addition to these hot meal deliveries, Anera distributed 1,500 produce baskets to UN shelters, evenly split among three regions: 500 in Gaza’s middle area, 500 in Rafah, and 500 in Khan Younis. Collectively, these baskets provide enough produce to prepare 66,000 meals.
Furthermore, our efforts continue in cleaning UN schools that are serving as shelters in the Khan Younis area, with 5 shelters being cleaned daily.
Despite our ongoing work, the fuel situation in Gaza remains critical. Anera, alongside numerous other humanitarian organizations in Gaza, urgently requires fuel to sustain our deliveries, sanitation efforts, water pumping, and medical aid support. Crucially, the lives of countless individuals depend on this essential resource. Therefore, we reiterate the urgent need for increased pressure to reopen the border and prioritize the delivery of vital fuel to effectively address this crisis.
October 26, 2023
From Anera’s country director in Lebanon, Samar El Yassir: “The war in Gaza has cast a heavy shadow over our hearts here in Lebanon. We find ourselves torn between the profound sorrow and anger we feel for our brothers and sisters in Palestine and the growing concern for Lebanon, a nation seemingly poised on the brink of war as well. It’s as if we’re standing on the edge of war, anxiously awaiting its start.” Read her blog post from yesterday.
Our Gaza team served 30,000 people with hot meals with meat and another 15,000 meals with fish to UN shelters in Khan Younis. We distributed 3,800 food parcels to UN shelters in Khan Younis and another 200 to hosting families in Rafah. The food in the parcels provides enough food for 100,000 meals. Our fresh produce bundles, 1,000 in all, went to UN shelters in the middle area and Khan Younis. There is food enough for 44,000 meals. We are also continue our regular cleaning service at UN shelters in Khan Younis.
October 25, 2023
Gaza’s water situation is catastrophic. The war has made the already fragile water and sanitation system in Gaza virtually inoperable. People in Gaza only have access to ~3 liters of water/day. Read more.
The Anera Gaza team delivered 13,000 meals, serving 26,000 people, to to UN shelters in Khan Younis. 11,500 of the meals were meat-based and 1,500 were fish. The team completed delivery of 700 parcels to locations in the north and Gaza City. The parcels contain enough food to make 21,000 meals.
Today, we delivered another 1,000 bundles of veggies, with 500 going to shelters in the middle area and 500 to Khan Younis shelters. These vegetables will make 44,000 meals.
Our cleaning service continued today at a UN shelters in Khan Younis.
October 24, 2023
Anera’s team delivered hot meals, enough for 26,000 servings, to people at UN shelters in Khan Younis. For the first time, we included fish meals that come from farms inside of Gaza.
The fresh produce Anera has been distributing is popular with families. Today, we delivered another 1,000 bundles of veggies, with 500 going to shelters in the middle area and 500 to Khan Younis shelters. These vegetables will make 44,000 meals.
Anera also continued our cleaning services at the UN shelters in Khan Younis. Each day Anera cleans five schools. So far, we’ve reached 25 shelters with the cleaning service, but our team is increasing the number of schools we service daily to 10, in order get more regular coverage for the 31 shelters in Khan Younis area.
October 23, 2023
The situation in Gaza remains dire. Al Shifa Hospital lacks essential supplies like water, food, and medicine. Many patients are in imminent danger of losing their lives. The aid coming through Egypt is meager so far, consisting of only 10 trucks of bottled water and a very limited amount of food. The deliveries barely scratch the surface of the community’s needs. And the process of getting aid in is extremely cumbersome. Trucks from Egypt cannot pass into Gaza. The aid is transferred at the border to PRCS and UNRWA trucks. No vehicles are allowed to travel beyond Deir Al Balah, the middle area of Gaza. While 40 trucks are expected today, the scale of assistance falls short of what is urgently required. The call for increased pressure to open the border and prioritize the delivery of essential fuel remains critical to addressing this crisis.
Today, our amazing Gaza team distributed 5,000 food parcels. Out of these, we sent 4,000 to UN shelters in the Rafah area, and another 1,000 to hosting families across the north and Gaza City. This shipment will provide 25,000 people with food for 150,000 meals. We also provided 3,000 hygiene kits to displaced families in Deir Al Balah and 10,000 hot meals, serving two adults each, have gone to families in UNRWA shelters in Khan Younis. Finally, the team collected from farmers and agricultural cooperatives, 1,000 fresh produce bundles which they distributed to UN shelters in Deir Al Balah and Khan Younis. These vegetables serve 5,000 and can make 44,000 meals.
Today, Anera’s contracted cleaning agency, sanitized an additional five UN schools, bringing the total to 20 UN schools cleaned so far.
Fuel scarcity is a critical issue, with lives hanging in the balance. The Anera team in Gaza was able to procure inside of Gaza 1,180 liters of fuel which they delivered to a desalination plant in Beit Hanoun. This amount of fuel will allow the plant to process 800,000 liters of water.
October 22, 2023
The situation in Gaza is calamitous. Gaza is in a humanitarian crisis. Services and support have collapsed, and people are dying without water. Our staff is struggling to find trucks, fuel, and food to help as many of their fellow Gazans as possible. People are reaching out to our staff, pleading for help. Today, just 14 trucks came in through Rafah, which will not come close to addressing the desperate situation. In the meantime, wireless service is vanishing, further isolating Gaza from the world.
While Anera aid from outside still has not gone into Gaza, our Gaza team still managed to distribute enough food for 175,000 meals today.
October 21, 2023
Twenty trucks from various organizations carrying humanitarian aid came into Gaza today through the Rafah border. They included two trucks of water, 13 with medicines, two with tuna, and three with a mix of food parcels, blankets, and other necessities. Though it is great news, it is a trickle of what is needed. Anera is still waiting with many other aid organizations to get in vital medicines and supplies.
Anera has purchased and stored medical supplies in Jordan that are ready to go to Gaza. We are coordinating with the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization to send them as soon as possible.
And, against all odds, our amazing Anera Gaza team continues to deliver food to displaced families in shelters. To date, the Anera community has served 100,000 displaced people with hot meals and delivered food parcels providing another 600,240 meals to displaced families.
The team also has been procuring fresh vegetables for families. So far, they have delivered enough for 75,000 meals. Included in these bundles of veggies are potatoes and eggplants, which displaced families specifically requested. They put together makeshift fires and use the oil Anera provided in the food parcels and they cook them on the spot. (Anera is also working to include aluminum foil in our distributions, to make cooking easier.)
Read the latest Gaza Flash Update from UNOCHA.
View Anera CEO and President Sean Carrol speaking about the humanitarian situation in Gaza on Canadian TV. For more, please visit our In the News page.
October 20, 2023
Yesterday and today have been incredibly challenging for the people living in Gaza, and the situation is growing even more dire. Our team on the ground, however, continues to work to provide essential aid.
They successfully delivered 10,000 hot meals, ensuring that at least 20,000 displaced people in UN shelters in Khan Younis had a warm meal today.
Additionally, they sent 338 food parcels to a hospital in Gaza City, where many children with cancer are getting treatment. These food parcels will feed the children and their families, as there is currently no food available for them at the hospital. Working in coordination with the Palestine Red Crescent, we provided these families with enough food to last them for at least 6 days.
Our Gaza team also delivered 400 food parcels to Beit Lahia in North Gaza to help displaced families in schools there. These parcels will provide meals to 2,000 people daily.
The team also distributed 1,000 baskets filled with vegetables today, serving 5,000 displaced people. Among these, 500 baskets went to UN school shelters in Khan Younis, while the other 500 to Deir Al Balah shelters.
Anera hired a cleaning agency, and today they began providing cleaning services to five UN shelters. The aim is to sanitize the shelters and improve hygiene conditions for the residents in order to minimize the spread of diseases. The workers from the cleaning agency themselves are also among the displaced, so they are able to earn money while helping their fellow displaced Gazans.
October 19, 2023
Anera’s Gaza team distributed 7,500 hot meal packages (each with two servings), 4,000 food parcels and 500 vegetable baskets to UNRWA schools in Khan Younis where displaced families are sheltering. They also were able to deliver 150 food parcels to families in Jabalia refugee camp in the north. The families there had not eaten for two days. The Anera team there plans more distributions in the coming days.
Our West Bank staff is working on service contracts to thoroughly clean five UNRWA schools. Despite best efforts and intentions, the overcrowding in shelters means that sanitary conditions inevitably are deteriorating and the threat of illnesses is increasing.
As for water, our colleagues in Gaza have been working for a few days to get a generator functioning in the Zawaydeh area of Deir Al Balah. They succeeded today! This is great news for 100,000 people in the area who can now get access to clean water. We also are working to procure, within Gaza, 3,500 cases of water, a total of 21,000 liters, to be distributed to displaced families.
Today, our Jordan team finalized and delivered 18 pallets (162,000 items) of high quality medical supplies, locally procured from Jordan, to be shipped to Gaza when a humanitarian corridor opens.
October 18, 2023
Anera’s Gaza team distributed 7,500 hot meals, 4,000 food parcels and 5,000 hygiene kits to displaced families sheltering in UNRWA schools located in Khan Younis. The quantity in the meals feeds two adults or three children. The food parcels can feed families of five for approximately five days. In some cases, we have been delivering the food in bulk, to expedite the aid deliveries.
Please see OCHA’s Flash Update #11 for the latest details on the situation in Gaza.
Anera FAQs on October 2023 War in Palestine-Israel.
October 17, 2023
Today, Anera delivered 7,500 hot meals to UN shelters in Khan Younis governorate. Each meal serves 15,000 displaced adults or 22,500 children. There are 32 active school shelters in the Khan Younis Governorate. Each shelter accommodates about 500 families, which means there are about 2,500 displaced people per shelter.
Anera’s Gaza team is also distributing food parcels and hygiene kits in Khan Younis and Deir Al Balah. The distribution of these items will take place today and tomorrow.
We are working with our partner World Central Kitchen on these vital distributions.
October 16, 2023
Today, Anera Gaza staff distributed 1,000 food parcels. Some 350 went to hosting families in Deir Al Balah. Through our local partners, we are prepared and distributed 7,500 hot meals, which served 15,000 displaced people sheltering in UNRWA schools in the south.
October 15, 2023
Update at 12:00 pm, Gaza time: Anera’s Gaza team has prepared 4,000 food parcels for immediate distribution to displaced families sheltering at UNRWA schools in the Khan Younis Governorate. The parcels include canned beans, dates, jam, halva, biscuits, canned tuna, beef, canned corn, tomato paste, sauces, powdered milk, and cheese. Anera purchased all of the items locally from a vendor close to the schools and UN trucks are delivering the food.
Read the latest report from UNOCHA >>>
October 14, 2023
The Israeli Government has again called for hospitals in the northern parts of Gaza to evacuate to the south. This means everyone — patients in ICUs, babies in neonatal units, those that were fighting chronic health and other life-threatening diseases prior to the war, and the thousands of people who have been injured in the attacks. Anera strongly condemn any attacks on Gaza hospitals and evacuation orders in violation of principles of humanitarian and human rights law, as they jeopardize the protection of wounded and sick individuals. Read our full statement.
Over the past three days, Anera’s Gaza team distributed food parcels to 2,000 displaced families – 1,500 in northern areas on October 12-13 and 500 in the Zawayda area today. The team also distributed 850 hygiene kits in Zawayda today.
Anera is now in the process of assembling 5,000 food parcels, containing ready-to-eat items like milk and biscuits. The vendor is in close proximity to UNRWA schools housing displaced families.
October 13, 2023
According to International Humanitarian Law, collective punishment is a war crime and forcible transfer is a crime against humanity. We call for the mass evacuation order issued to 1.1 million Palestinians in Gaza to be immediately revoked. That is plain for all to see. Read our full statement.
October 12, 2023
We received this film from our extraordinary videographer in Gaza, Ibrahim Zaanoun. Tragically, his house was destroyed today and his family is now sheltering in a school.
From one of our staff members in Gaza today: My family and I are safe now, but not safe the next moment. I am staying in my home at Tel El Hawa, 500 meters away from Islamic University. We witnessed a very horrible night on Monday when the whole neighborhood near my home was completely destroyed. You can say that we are alive, but also dead. With no expectation of what will happen next, we are tired, tense, traumatized, and exhausted. It is a pity to feel that we, the Palestinians, are off the world’s agenda.
We have our emergency bag ready so we can leave for a “safer” place at a moment’s notice. I look into my daughter’s eyes as seeks reassurance and I have nothing to say. It’s killing me as a parent. So we try to get our strength back to support our loved ones and deal with all of this as a stage in our life. The morning light comes again to give us hope for a better tomorrow. Wal alhamdolellah. We get our strength from Allah.
October 11, 2023
According to UNOCHA, some 200,000 of Gaza’s 2.2 million residents, have been displaced after fleeing for fear of their lives or after their homes were destroyed or damaged by airstrikes. Most of them are taking shelter in UNRWA’s schools, at least two of which have already been damaged by airstrikes in the area. The Gaza power plant has officially run out of fuel.
Our Gaza colleagues report that people are evacuating their neighborhoods, although there are limited spaces designated for shelter and no place is really safe. It is not uncommon for upwards of five families to crowd into one home, seeking shelter with their relatives. On top of that, there are incidents of false evacuation orders. One person talked about carrying his invalid mother down seven stories and carrying her back up – more than once – upon learning of false evacuation orders. Another person said “I’m not going to leave. I’d rather die with dignity in my home.”
Anera response
Anera is concentrating on procuring food parcels, water, and hygiene kits for displaced families, and coordinating with the UN and other organizations to ensure all essential relief areas are covered. Anera’s staff in Gaza are working with local vendors to coordinate immediate purchases of items like food, water, hygiene kits, blankets, and mattresses.
We are putting together food parcels over the next 24 hours, to be distributed with hygiene kits, to displaced families in UNRWA schools.
In the month leading up to the beginning of the war, Anera we distributed 22,000 doses of prenatal and multivitamins, 48,000 treatments of antibiotics and medicines for hypertension, diabetes, and other non-communicable diseases, and healthcare supplies including cotton, gauze, syringes, water purifying tablets, and Vaseline to treat injuries and burns. Our medical donations team is communicating closely with international partners to procure additional medicines and essential medical supplies, which we hope to send through the Rafah, Gaza border with coordination from partners in Jordan.
An update from Anera staff in the West Bank
According to Anera’s staff in the West Bank, the situation there is very tense and people are worried about a large-scale war. Apart from some shortages in food shops, so far life is relatively normal within towns and cities — but travel using main roads between population centers is not permitted. And there are new checkpoints and gates, like the one that the Israelis are installing between Hebron and Halhoul. Israeli citizens have been asked to secure food, water and medicine for 72 hours.
October 10, 2023
Reports from our staff suggest that the intensity of the bombing that Gaza is now experiencing is unprecedented. News reports indicate that Israel is preparing to launch a ground invasion into Gaza. Israeli airstrikes have hit Rafah crossing on the Gaza-Egypt border twice in the last day, prompting its closure on the Egyptian side.
WHO reports that hospital stocks of medical supplies are becoming depleted due to the border closures. Today, the United Nations called for the establishment of a humanitarian corridor.
Anera’s staff in Gaza are currently procuring 2,000 food parcels to distribute to displaced families. Since the families can’t cook, we’re sending out ready-to-eat foods. These packaged foods require no refrigeration before opening. The parcels include jam, dates, feta, cheddar cheese, cream cheese, corned beef, tuna, kidney beans, za’atar, olive oil, dukka (seasoning), and bread that should last six to 10 days for a family of five.
Anera is also procuring 3,000 hygiene kits – in addition to the 800 we’re distributing – and we are actively working to buy drinking water locally in Gaza.
We are stocking up on medical supplies and medicines at our Hebron distribution center so that we can deliver immediately to Gaza when a humanitarian corridor opens.
Three of our staff have been displaced. One has had to move with his family between the houses of relatives multiple times, making the painful decision to separate shelters for his children in case the worst happens. Other staff are sheltering in our offices.
October 9, 2023
Israel has issued a complete and full closure of Gaza. Stocks of all kinds will run low quickly.
Residents of the Rimal area of Gaza City received evacuation orders, which has affected some of Anera’s staff as well as the office. The hospital in Beit Hanoun is no longer functioning, due to the bombing. And, according to OCHA, more than 120,000 people in Gaza have been displaced.
In the next days, Anera is concentrating on procuring and distributing food parcels, water, and hygiene kits to displaced families. We are also distributing hygiene kits to 800 families now.
October 8, 2023
The unprecedented escalation in the war that began on October 7 in Palestine and Israel have already created significant humanitarian needs that are almost certain to grow substantially.
The situation is precarious as Israel’s response to the crisis remains uncertain. We do know, though, that the crisis has led to the displacement of as many as 70,000 people in the north of Gaza, who are now seeking shelter in schools and homes. Jabalia is just one of the many areas severely affected and it is clear that other areas may soon witness similar mass displacements. This uncertainty underscores the urgency of providing humanitarian assistance to those affected.
Anera’s focus is on the humanitarian aspect of the crisis. We are dedicated to supporting those caught in the crossfire, the innocent casualties of war. Our Palestinian staff are participating in all relevant humanitarian coordination bodies to ensure coordinated and appropriate local and international response.
Anera FAQs on October 2023 War in Palestine-Israel
A few days ago, Anera delivered 12,000 bags of IV solutions to Gaza’s largest hospital just in time for the emergency. And, in the next couple days, we are distributing hygiene kits to displace families in UNRWA schools. Our medical aid team is in contact with our international partners for donated medical supplies. They are also looking into procuring items on the local market, Our staff in Gaza and the West Bank are reaching out to vendors for immediate purchase of relief supplies like hygiene kits, food, water, blankets and mattresses.
Anera has distribution centers in the West Bank and Gaza to act as staging areas for dispatching relief supplies where they are most needed, when conditions allow.
We are ready to respond to what will likely be a large humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank.