Getting Aid
How does Anera select the beneficiaries of its aid?
We work through a wide network of trusted local partners – including clinics, internally displaced persons shelters, and community-based organizations – to identify families in greatest need. We also draw from existing program beneficiary lists, medical referrals, and partner data to ensure aid is directed fairly and transparently. We also receive lists Ministry of Social Development in Ramallah.
Our beneficiary lists are cross-verified with the Ministry of Social Development in Ramallah and Anera’s internal databases, which include records of past beneficiaries and community-nominated families. This process aligns with standard practices used by other international non-governmental organizations working in Gaza.
To determine eligibility, we choose families with income below the minimum wage and households with 5–6 members. Additionally, Anera gives preference to:
- Female-headed households
- Families that include individuals with disabilities, orphans, or pregnant or lactating women
When demand exceeds our capacity, we maintain a waiting list system so that individuals who are not reached immediately can still be considered for future distributions. Our goal is to serve as many vulnerable families as possible, with fairness, dignity, and transparency.
How can I get help from Anera?
Where are Anera's distributions and health clinics located?
Community kitchens: With the departure of many displaced families returning back to their home neighborhoods in northern parts of Gaza, as of January 31, 2025 we suspended operations at our remaining two tekias, both in the south, in Deir Al Balah and Khan Younis. On April 9, 2025, we reopened two tekias again using a new distribution model delivering food directly to families in their shelters. We have long since exhausted our food stores and are relying on the last remaining food stores of partners. Unless crossings reopen, we will soon be forced to close these tekias.
- Gaza City field primary healthcare center clinics (North Beach Park, south side; Abu Sam Abu Mahadi's house | غزة_منتزه الشاطئ الشمالي _الجهة الجنوبية _منزل ابوبسام أبومهادي)
- Deir Al Balah
- Deir Al Balah field primary healthcare center clinics )
- mother and child health clinics (open on a rotating basis)
- Qarara West area mother and child health clinic (Shams Shelter)
- Deir Al Balah City mother and child health clinic (Abu Samra Shelter)
- Zawayda mother and child health clinic (Unlimited Friends)
- Khan Younis field primary healthcare center clinics (after a brief closure, we have relocated the center at a location down the street from the old site; the clinics are open to patients and operational as of March 20, 2025 | Mawasi - Al Attar Street, near Al Attar petrol station)
Logistics
Does Anera use armed security escorts for its aid convoys in Gaza?
Anera does not request, authorize, or coordinate any armed presence for our humanitarian aid shipments. We adhere strictly to established humanitarian protocols to ensure aid is delivered safely, impartially, and with dignity. However, in highly volatile environments, we cannot control the actions of external actors near our convoys. While desperate conditions can sometimes lead to unpredictable or counterproductive behavior, our team remains committed to best practices and principled humanitarian delivery at all times.
Anera also does not, and will never, respond to looting or civil unrest with force. Our teams are trained to de-escalate and withdraw if security conditions deteriorate. We are committed to preserving the safety of civilians, aid workers, and the humanitarian principles that guide our work.
How does Anera get aid in?
Since October 2023, Anera has delivered 1,400+ tons of humanitarian relief items in Gaza. Anera has done this principally in two ways. The first is by using cash donations to procure goods locally from known and trusted vendors — this was generally more practical in the earliest weeks and most recent months of the war. The second method is by receiving items trucked into Gaza, often donated by partners with entry facilitated by Gaza staff in Palestine.
Some of the aid shipped into Gaza is designated to go directly to Anera, while other goods are brought in by and/or delivered to other organizations and agencies, such as UN agencies, who then partner with Anera to deliver them “the last mile” to the intended beneficiaries. In either case, Anera packages (or cooks) and delivers that aid to those who need it most.
To make this happen, Anera’s staff in Gaza, Ramallah, Jerusalem, Amman and the US work together and with the appropriate parties, such as governments, military-civilian coordinators, logistics companies and humanitarian actors, including some 50 other partners, to coordinate the necessary arrangements.
Deliveries since the beginning of March 2025 have become very restricted, with the internationally accepted humanitarian mechanisms for distributions of aid impeded by the Israel government and replace by its Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. Since these restrictions went into effect, Anera has been able to successfully bring in and distribute 10 trucks of aid.
The amount of aid currently entering Gaza is certainly not nearly enough to meet the needs of this humanitarian catastrophe. Anera remains committed to serving Gaza’s civilians. We urge the international community to reject untested, politicized mechanisms like GHF that restrict access and instead support principled, effective, and scaled aid efforts that reach people where they are.
How is Anera prioritizing needs?
Anera prioritizes aid in Gaza by focusing on the most vulnerable families and delivering assistance with fairness, transparency, and in line with international humanitarian standards. We work through a broad network of trusted local partners – including clinics, internally displaced persons shelters, and community-based organizations – to identify households in greatest need.
Our selection process uses clear eligibility criteria. We give priority to large households (five or more members), female-headed households, and families that include individuals with disabilities, orphans, or pregnant or lactating women. While these groups are prioritized, the widespread level of need in Gaza means that we strive to extend distributions to as many families as possible. When demand exceeds capacity, we use a waiting list system to ensure others can be included in future distributions.
Anera is committed to serving with integrity and to advocating for greater humanitarian access so we can reach even more people in desperate need.
How can Anera ensure that donations serve their intended beneficiaries and not parties like Hamas?
Anera is committed to delivering life-saving assistance with integrity, transparency and full compliance with U.S. law and international humanitarian principles. Our policy is to provide aid only through legitimate, vetted, and capable institutions – such as clinics, municipalities, and community-based organizations – that meet strict standards of accountability, management, technical capacity, and community outreach. These local partners are evaluated by Anera’s staff to ensure they are eligible and able to implement projects effectively.
To comply with U.S. laws, Anera strictly adheres to a no-contact policy with Hamas. We do not engage with, coordinate with, or provide aid to any Hamas leaders, affiliates, or related entities. All individuals and institutions involved in our work are screened against the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) list of designated terrorist organizations. Because Hamas is listed by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group, Anera has no association with them of any kind.
Once a project is completed, we produce detailed financial and program evaluation reports and apply robust monitoring and evaluation systems to assess the effectiveness and impact of our work. Anera is audited annually by independent firms. You can read more in our accountability statement.
Since the war began in October 2023, we have no verified evidence that Hamas is intercepting Anera aid. We operate in a highly unstable environment in Gaza, however, where lawlessness, looting, and war profiteering are widespread. In some cases, organized groups exploit the breakdown of order and the extreme shortage of supplies – a challenge shared by all humanitarian actors on the ground.
Despite these conditions, Anera remains steadfast in its mission to serve those in need and continues to advocate for greater humanitarian access across Gaza.
Is Anera’s staff safe delivering aid inside Gaza?
The truth is, no one is really safe in Gaza right now. All of Anera’s staff have been displaced from their homes and are staying in shelters with little food, water or electricity. Despite the very difficult circumstances, however, they are doing everything they can to deliver aid to their fellow Gazans. Their work is nothing short of heroic.
Why do you sometimes buy medicines on the local market and how do you decide specifically who to buy from?
In normal times, most medicines Anera delivers are donated by reputable international organizations, not purchased. In emergency situations, however, purchasing can be the quickest way to get the medicines to where they are urgently needed. We go to vetted pharmaceutical manufacturers in the area to make those purchases and to support the local Palestinian economy.
Given the very limited supplies of all kinds of items in Gaza, local purchases is rarer than usual. To make up some of the gaps in supplies, Anera barter medicines and other healthcare items among our clinics and other healthcare facilities across Gaza.
Is Gaza under blockade?
Aid is currently entering Gaza in very restricted amounts. Previously, on March 2, 2025 Israel imposed a total closure on the entry of all cargo into Gaza. After an 11-week (78 day) siege, on May 19, 2025 Israel opened a few select pathways to allow a very limited number of trucks to enter Gaza on an ongoing basis.
Where is aid going to once in Gaza?
Anera delivers humanitarian relief activities through our distribution centers/points in Khan Younis, Deir Al Balah and Gaza City. We also operate health clinics in those same three governorates.
While restrictions on humanitarian aid remain high, our on-the-ground team is dedicated to getting aid where it needs to go while following proper protocol. Our colleagues in Gaza recently received aid through the Zikim crossing under permission from the Israeli government, marking the first shipment in almost three months.
Where are you getting humanitarian aid supplies from?
In the first weeks and months of the war, we were able to purchase and distribute items from vetted local vendors. We still are purchasing some items locally, such as vegetable, most stocks are largely depleted. We are therefore working tirelessly to import aid into Gaza through whatever routes are currently operational, including at various times the West Bank, Israel, Jordan and Egypt. This includes food, medical aid, hygiene items and shelter supplies.
Anera works with many partner organizations to bring in relief supplies, including World Central Kitchen, the World Food Program, UNICEF, HEAL Palestine, Americares, Direct Relief and more.
Can I send money through Anera to an individual in Gaza?
No, Anera does not handle this kind of transaction. Instead, Anera uses any funds we receive on delivering programs that provide humanitarian aid or services.
Can Anera coordinate evacuations for people in Gaza?
No, unfortunately, Anera does not evacuate people.
Impact
What is Anera doing with all of the funds coming in to help Gaza?
Anera has brought in more than 1,400 tons of humanitarian aid since the start of the war in October, including food, hygiene supplies, shelter supplies, clothes and more. Our teams in the West Bank coordinate a pipeline of shipments to go in whenever crossings open. Because so little is getting into Gaza now, Anera is purchasing vegetables from Gaza farmers for distributions as well as some supplies for providing hot meals.
Our health team in Gaza also run a series of clinics that offer a wide range of services, from orthopedics to gynecology. We also provide psychosocial services to traumatized children and their parents, and education in temporary learning spaces.
See our response log for specifics on what we deliver.
We will also use funds for longer term relief and development projects.
What are the current needs?
The needs in Gaza right now are overwhelming and urgent. Gaza is enduring one of the most devastating military assaults in recent history, leaving much of the population displaced, traumatized and struggling to survive. Nearly the entire population lacks reliable access to clean water, food, electricity and medical care.
People urgently need food, clean water, shelter materials, hygiene supplies, medical care and psychological support.
The scale of need is staggering, and continues to grow every day.
How is Anera coordinating with other organizations to ensure efforts are not duplicated?
When emergencies occur, coordination is vital. The UN leads coordinating “clusters” covering areas such as health, food security, protection, water and sanitation, and shelter to ensure that there are few gaps and overlaps in the assistance delivered by humanitarian organizations. Anera is an active participant in the UN clusters, responding accordingly and within our mandate.
Is aid getting to people?
Aid from Anera is reaching Gaza, but the challenges are immense. Since the war began, we've delivered 1,600+ trucks of food, medicine, and supplies to people in desperate need in Gaza. Our deliveries, however, are affected by severe restrictions, looting, and security risks. While we adapt daily to get aid to those in desperate need, the scale of the crisis demands urgent international action for improved access and security.
Does my donation make a difference?
Yes! Your donation to our emergency fund goes directly to the humanitarian aid we distribute to civilians in Gaza. Thanks to our donors, we have successfully delivered over 60 million meals — as well as hygiene kits, medical aid, clothing vouchers and shelter supplies. Donor support has also enabled us to provide psychosocial activities for children, conduct classes in temporary learning spaces, and run health clinics for displaced families.
See our daily response log to learn more specifics.
About Anera
Does Anera have staff in Gaza?
Anera has 13 staff working in Gaza. They all come from the communities they serve, so they are able to quickly identify areas of need and respond immediately as funds become available.
Our Anera team of staff works with some 450 volunteers, personnel from local organizations, vendors and suppliers on the ground.
Despite the trauma they’ve endured, they remain focused and energized, delivering aid, running clinics, and finding ways to rebuild. Their optimism, dedication and ability to get things done are nothing short of heroic. It’s important, though, that we not romanticize their resilience. No one should have to endure what the people of Gaza are living through. The international community must do more to open crossings, increase aid flows, address the root causes of this tragedy, and to build back better.
Why haven’t I ever heard about Anera?
Anera is well known in Palestine, where our programs have had a big impact on people’s lives. In order to maintain our very low fundraising and overhead expenses, we have historically limited our advertising and marketing expenditures. Anera depends mainly on dedicated supporters to spread the word about our impact and efficiency.
Please forward our emails, share our Facebook, Instagram, website postings and our X posts, and/or pass along our newsletters and mail appeals. More people need to be aware of what Anera is, why we can be trusted, and how we are making a difference. As one of our supporters, you are the best and most credible Anera advocate in your community of friends, family and colleagues.
Why isn’t Anera helping Israelis?
In our registration in 1968 with the Israeli government, Anera is restricted to serving the Palestinian people. Anera operates in the West Bank, Gaza, Jordan and Lebanon.
I'd like to interview someone at Anera for a news article or broadcast. Who should I contact?
Please contact Steve Fake at [email protected] for media inquiries.
What is Anera’s relationship with the UAE?
Anera has partnerships with several public and private UAE donors and organizations on specific humanitarian and long-term development projects, particularly to provide aid to Gaza. Current partnerships, some long-standing, some newer, include work with UAEAid, Dubai Cares, the Abu Dhabi Dream Ball, and the Palestinian Business Council, among many others.
How You Can Support Anera
What is the difference between the regular donation link versus the Gaza donation link?
When you use the Gaza emergency response link to donate, the funds you give go directly to Anera’s response to the catastrophe befalling Gaza. When you give through the general donate link, you are making an unrestricted donation in support of Anera’s work across Palestine, Lebanon and Jordan.
Can I volunteer with Anera?
We currently do not accept volunteers. If you’d like to get involved and support Anera, please consider other ways to help.
I would like to collect supplies (food, clothes, toys, hygiene supplies, surplus medical disposables, etc.) to send to Gaza. Can Anera help me get them there?
While we appreciate the thoughtfulness that caring people invest in these collection efforts, for the most part we cannot accept these kinds of donations from individuals. Instead, we encourage people to donate. This is for multiple reasons:
Volume. Anera typically sends 20- and 40-foot containers of donated medicines and relief supplies to the Middle East. This is by far the most cost-effective way to send donated goods as a container can fit an enormous volume of materials and many of our wonderful in-kind donors cover the cost of shipping.
Storage. Some organizations and individuals have asked us if we can include supplies from them in one of the containers we are already planning to ship. Unfortunately, the answer is still no. Anera does not maintain U.S.-based warehouse space. The containers we send to the Middle East are shipped directly from the warehouses of our medical donation partners. For safety and quality control reasons, these donors will not allow Anera to add donations to their carefully inspected and professionally packed containers.
Speed and Expense. It is a much slower process to bring goods in from abroad rather than to purchase them locally. To do so, Anera would need to get the customs export and import documentation in order; arrange for and cover the cost of shipping; get the items approved through local authorities (which takes 6 weeks at a minimum); pay for the costs of clearance, storage, demurrage, and transportation to our local warehouse; receive and inventory them in the warehouse; and then finally distribute them. All told, this can cost us upwards of $20,000. With funds in hand, staff can immediately and specifically respond to the needs on the ground as they arise. This approach has the added benefit of supporting the local economy.
Anera does accept in-kind donations from established organizations, such as Americares, Direct Relief, Lutheran World Relief, and United Methodist Committee on Relief. These are organizations whose business is to send in-kind donations – from medicines and supplies to hygiene kits and baby care items – to the communities that need them most. Having done this work for decades, they have an effective and well-tested set of processes designed to respond specifically to the needs Anera communicates to them through our on-the-ground staff. Read more about our in-kind work in Gaza.
How can I help Gaza other than to give donations?
The extent and reach of our response depend on the amount of donations Anera receives. The best way for you to help people in Gaza is to spread the word about what is happening there and how Anera is addressing their needs. Forward our emails, share our Facebook, Instagram, website postings and our X posts, and/or pass along our newsletters and mail appeals. More people need to be made aware of what Anera is, why we can be trusted, and how we are making a difference. As one of our supporters, you are the best and most credible Anera advocate in your community of friends, family and colleagues.
Can I make a zakat contribution to help Gaza?
With the ongoing crisis exacerbating hunger and thirst, your zakat contribution can provide crucial relief. Anera, with its long-standing presence and experience in Gaza, is distributing food parcels to ensure families have access to nutritious meals, particularly during Ramadan. Your donation can provide a meal to displaced families in Gaza — it may be serving as their only source of sustenance to start and break their fasts. Your generosity is instrumental in supporting Anera's relief efforts and offering hope for a better future for Palestinians in Gaza.
Give today, change a life forever.
$219 M
worth of aid to serve millions of Palestinians, Lebanese, Syrians and Jordanians, in calendar year 2024
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More About Anera
Anera addresses the development and relief needs of refugees and vulnerable communities in Palestine, Lebanon and Jordan.
Anera is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (tax-ID number 52-0882226). Your gift is secure and tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.
