Gaza and West Bank Response Log | April 2024
In this log, Anera provides updates on unfolding war in Palestine and our response. In some cases, additional activities may be added retroactively to the daily entries as we receive additional program reporting.
April 30, 2024
Today, our tekia in Khan Younis cooked 7,500 hot meals, the oPt HF funded kitchen in Rafah prepared 3,000 hot meals and our tekia community kitchen in Jabalia distributed 20,000 hot meals. Overall, we distributed a total of 30,500 hot meals.
We also distributed 1,500 fresh produce baskets in Rafah, Khan Younis and Deir Al Balah, providing enough produce to support 33,000 meals. Between hot meals and fresh produce, we distributed enough food aid to support 63,500 meals today.
Also today, we distributed 800 boxes of clothes and 300 hygiene kits provided by UNICEF to 600 families in 14 informal shelters across Rafah, Deir Al Balah and Mawasi Khan Younis.
Yesterday, our facilitators managed to reach Madinat Hamad, a neighborhood in Al Mawasi, Khan Younis, to hold psychosocial support activities for the displaced children sheltering there.
And yesterday evening, we received four trucks from the Jordan Chamber of Industry carrying food and flour. We will be distributing these items promptly.
On Sunday, with our partner GEM, we were able for the first time to send three trucks with assistance (primarily flour, water, and beans) to northern Gaza.
April 29, 2024
Our Gaza team provided 20,000 rice and chicken hot meals at our kitchen in Jabalia and another 15,000 at one of our kitchens in Khan Younis. Anera also distributed 380 food parcels and 1,500 fresh produce baskets in Rafah, Khan Younis and Deir Al Balah. Between hot meals, food parcels, and fresh produce, we distributed enough food aid to support 88,900 meals.
The team also distributed 1,350 boxes of clothes from UNICEF among families in eight informal shelters across Rafah and Khan Younis.
Yesterday, we brought in an additional four trucks from UNICEF carrying clothing, as well as eight GEM trucks carrying flour, water, and beans.
April 28, 2024
The United Arab Emirates and Anera have partnered to scale the humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza. Today, 400 tons of food have reached Ashdod port via Larnaca in Cyprus to be loaded into trucks heading to Gaza in the next couple days. Read more.
Our Gaza team provided 20,000 rice and chicken hot meals at our kitchen in Jabalia. Anera also distributed 1,200 food parcels and 1,500 fresh produce baskets in Rafah, Khan Younis and Deir Al Balah, providing enough produce to support 33,000 meals. Between hot meals, food parcels, and fresh produce, we distributed enough food aid to support 113,000 meals.
Anera also distributed hygiene kits for 400 families from UNICEF. Distributions went to 11 informal shelters in Deir Al Balah and Rafah.
Late last night, Anera received 33 trucks in Gaza: one Americares shipment carrying medical supplies, one carrying tents, five UNICEF trucks transporting hygiene kits and bottles of water, and 26 trucks from GEM containing food aid.
Yesterday, Anera conducted small group psychosocial activities in four schools in Rafah, with participation from 255 children and 30 parents.
April 27, 2024
Between hot meals, food parcels, and fresh produce, today we distributed enough food aid to support 77,000 meals. We distributed 12,000 hot meals of meat and rice at our oPt HF-funded Khan Younis kitchen, with meals going to displaced people in Khan Younis and Deir Al Balah. We also prepared and distributed 20,000 hot meals in our tekia community kitchen in Jabalia. In total we distributed 32,000 hot meals.
And we distributed 1,500 fresh produce baskets in Rafah, Khan Younis and Deir Al Balah, providing enough produce to support 33,000 meals.
From our distribution center, we packaged and distributed 300 food parcels provided by the Jordan Chamber of Industry. We also distributed 600 UNICEF hygiene kits benefitting 1,200 families, and 200 boxes of clothes from UNICEF. We provided this assistance at seven informal shelters in Khan Younis and Rafah.
We also received five truck loads of aid at our distribution center in Gaza today. The trucks were sent by the Jordan Chamber of Industry and carried food parcels, rice, flour and hummus and tahini.
April 26, 2024
A total of 23,000 hot meals were distributed today in Gaza:
- 3,000 hot meals (rice and meat) were distributed at our oPt Humanitarian Fund supported Qatari camp kitchen in the south;
- 20,000 were prepared and delivered from our Jabalia tekia (community kitchen) in the north.
Furthermore, we received 9 trucks from UNICEF: 5 transporting clothes and 4 carrying hygiene kits.
April 25, 2024
Today, a total of 3,000 hot meals (consisting of rice and meat) were distributed at our oPt HF-funded Qatari camp kitchen. Additionally, we prepared and distributed 20,000 hot meals at our tekia (community kitchen) in Jabalia, bringing the total number of hot meals distributed to 23,000.
We also distributed 1,500 fresh produce baskets in Rafah, Khan Younis, and Gaza’s middle area, providing enough produce to support 33,000 meals.
Combining hot meals, food parcels, and fresh produce, we provided enough food aid to sustain 72,000 meals today.
From our distribution center, we distributed 400 food parcels from JCI and 400 UNICEF hygiene kits, benefiting 800 families. This assistance was directed to approximately 8 informal shelters in Gaza’s middle area and Rafah.
Furthermore, we received 7 trucks from GEM carrying food aid.
April 24, 2024
Our Gaza team provided 23,000 rice and chicken hot meals at the Qatari camp in Rafah and at our kitchen in Jabalia. Anera also distributed 500 food parcels and 1,500 fresh produce baskets in Rafah, Khan Younis and Deir Al Balah, providing enough produce to support 74,800 meals. Between hot meals, food parcels, and fresh produce, we distributed enough food aid to support 117,800 meals.
Anera also distributed 800 bags of flour from the Jordan Chamber of Industry and GEM, as well as 200 boxes of clothes, 500 packs of diapers and 600 hygiene kits from UNICEF. Distributions went to 10 informal shelters in Deir Al Balah, Khan Younis and Rafah.
Anera delivered our first shipment of medical donations to the north today. Our health staff in Gaza successfully sent 16 pallets to Gaza City and they are delivering the hygiene kits, healthcare supplies and medicines (including pregnancy multivitamins, antidiabetics and antihypertensive medications) to two health facilities in Gaza. The shipments come from Direct Relief and Americares.
The team in Gaza received seven trucks from UNICEF today, carrying hygiene kits and menstrual pads.
We also coordinated psychosocial activities at 11 schools in Rafah and Deir Al Balah, benefiting 1,489 children and 255 caregivers.
April 23, 2024
Today, we distributed enough food aid to support 144,400 meals, including hot meals, food parcels, and fresh produce. We distributed a total of 3,000 hot meals of meat and rice at our oPt Humanitarian Fund-funded Qatari camp kitchen. And we prepared and distributed 20,000 hot meals in our tekia community kitchen in Jabalia. We also distributed 1,500 fresh produce baskets in Rafah, Khan Younis and Deir Al Balah. Significantly, today we also extended our support to the north by transporting 1,600 fresh produce baskets to displaced people north of Wadi Gaza. Collectively, these fresh produce baskets provided enough produce to support 68,200 meals. And from our distribution center, we distributed 1,400 food parcels containing provisions provided by the Jordan Chamber of Industry.
Also today, we provided 200 boxes of clothing and 100 hygiene kits from UNICEF to 200 families in seven informal shelters in Deir Al Balah, Khan Younis and Rafah.
Lastly, we also conducted psychosocial support activities at 12 schools today, located across Rafah and Deir Al Balah, with 1,708 children participating.
April 22, 2024
Our Gaza team provided 23,000 rice and chicken hot meals at the Qatari camp in Rafah and at our kitchen in Jabalia. Anera also distributed 2,000 food parcels and 1,500 fresh produce baskets in Rafah, Khan Younis and Deir Al Balah, providing enough produce to support 33,000 meals. Between hot meals, food parcels, and fresh produce, we distributed enough food aid to support 121,000 meals.
The team also conducted psychosocial support activities across 12 schools, with 8 sessions held in Rafah and 4 in Deir Al Balah, benefiting 1,960 children and 260 caregivers.
April 21, 2024
Our Gaza team provided 23,000 rice and chicken hot meals at the Qatari camp in Rafah and at our kitchen in Jabalia. Anera also distributed 1,000 food parcels and 1,500 fresh produce baskets in Rafah, Khan Younis and Deir Al Balah, providing enough produce to support 33,000 meals. Between hot meals, food parcels, and fresh produce, we distributed enough food aid to support 94,000 meals.
The team also provided 7,200 juice cartons for children and 200 tarps among informal shelters in Khan Younis and Rafah.
April 20, 2024
Today, we distributed food aid to support 132,000 meals for people in Gaza, including hot meals, food parcels, and fresh produce. We served 3,000 hot meals of chicken and rice at our oPt-funded Qatari camp kitchen. And we prepared and served 20,000 hot meals at our tekia community kitchen in Jabalia, in the north.
We also distributed 1,500 fresh produce baskets total to Rafah, Khan Younis and Deir Al Balah, providing enough produce to support 33,000 meals.
And from our distribution center, we sent out 2,000 food parcels filled with food aid provided by JCI and 120 tarps from UNICEF. We delivered this aid to eight informal shelters in Khan Younis and Rafah.
April 19, 2024
Today, a total of 3,000 hot meals (rice and chicken) were distributed at our oPt-funded Qatari camp kitchen. We also distributed 500 fresh produce baskets in the middle area, providing enough produce to support 11,000 meals. Between hot meals and fresh produce, we distributed enough food aid to support 14,000 meals.
Yesterday, we conducted psychosocial support activities across 12 schools, with 8 sessions held in Rafah and 4 in Gaza’s middle area. More than 1,800 children benefited from these sessions.
Additionally, we held another free health day in Gaza’s middle area, situated northeast of Alzawieda village. This health day took place at an informal shelter and its vicinity, where hundreds of local and internally displaced families reside. Our medical team, comprising a general practitioner, pediatrician, dentist, pharmacist, nurse, and gynecologist, treated a total of 188 patients and provided them with free medications.
April 18, 2024
Today, a total of 23,000 hot meals were distributed as follows between our two kitchens:
- Jabalia tekia served 20,000 hot meals.
- The oPt Qatari camp kitchen provided 3,000 rice and chicken hot meals.
Additionally, we distributed 1,500 fresh produce baskets in Rafah, Khan Younis, and Gaza’s middle area, which provided enough produce to support 33,000 meals.
Overall, between hot meals, fresh produce, and food parcels, we distributed enough food aid to support 72,000 meals. Furthermore, aid provided by JCI, including 7,200 bags of detergent, 2,400 packs of tea, and 400 food parcels, was distributed to 4 informal shelters in Rafah.
Today marked the implementation of a free health day in the middle area of Gaza, specifically in Deir Al Balah. This health day took place at an informal shelter and its surrounding areas, catering to hundreds of local and internally displaced families. Our medical team, comprising a general practitioner, pediatrician, dentist, pharmacist, nurse, and gynecologist, provided care. In total, 169 patients received treatment, and free medications were distributed from our received MD shipments.
Yesterday, we conducted psychosocial support activities across 10 schools, engaging 1,669 children and 257 adults.
April 17, 2024
Today, Anera’s team in Gaza distributed 23,000 hot chicken and rice meals at our Jabalia community kitchen and the Qatari camp in Rafah. They also delivered 1,000 food parcels and 1,500 fresh produce baskets in Rafah, Khan Younis and the middle area, providing enough produce to support 33,000 meals. Between hot meals, fresh produce and food parcels, we distributed enough food aid to support 89,000 meals.
Additionally, the team distributed a variety of aid provided by the Jordan Chamber of Industry (JCI) and UNICEF, including 33,700 boxes of children’s juice, 16,225 packs of biscuits, 3,500 bags of chips, 3,335 bags of rice and 1,000 tarps for tents. The aid went to 28 informal shelters in Khan Younis, Rafah and Deir Al Balah.
Our medical team in Gaza conducted a free healthcare day in Deir Al Balah at an informal shelter. Our medical team consists of a general practitioner, pediatrician, dentist, pharmacist, nurse and a gynecologist. They treated 245 patients and dispensed free medicines from Direct Relief and Americares.
We also received eight trucks from JCI carrying a variety of food aid, including flour, rice, pasta, legumes, tuna and milk.
April 16, 2024
Today, a total of 23,000 hot meals were distributed between our tekia in the north and our oPt Humanitarian Fund supported kitchen:
- Jabalia tekia: 20,000 hot meals
- Qatari camp kitchen: 3,000 rice and chicken hot meals
In addition to this, we distributed 1,500 fresh produce baskets in Rafah, Khan Younis, and Gaza’s middle area, providing enough produce to support 33,000 meals. Between hot meals, fresh produce, and food parcels, we distributed enough food aid to support 94,000 meals.
Additionally, we distributed a range of food and non-food aid generously donated by JCI, UNICEF, and GEM. This aid included 200 bags of flour and 1,080 1.5-liter water bottles from GEM. We also distributed JCI-provided items, including 1,000 food parcels, 1,200 detergent bags, 286 3.5kg bags of rice, 1,200 bottles of sanitizer, and 900 1kg bags of lentils.
UNICEF’s contribution included 140 hygiene kits, 2,000 boxes of clothes, and 56 tarps for tents. Additionally, 50 tents were distributed today. This aid was distributed to over 20 informal shelters in Mawasi Khan Younis, Khan Younis, Mawasi Rafah, Rafah city, and the middle area.
Today, we received one truck from JCI carrying flour.
Today, we successfully conducted a free health day in the Gaza’s middle area, specifically in Deir Al Balah. Our efforts were focused on the Abu Amer informal shelter, home to hundreds of displaced Palestinian families. Our dedicated medical team, comprising a general practitioner, pediatrician, dentist, pharmacist, nurse, and a gynecologist, provided essential healthcare services.
Throughout the day, our team attended to 170 patients, offering diagnosis, treatment, and medical advice. Furthermore, we dispensed necessary medications to patients at no cost, drawing from our stock received through MD shipments.
April 15, 2024
Our team in Gaza coordinated distribution of 23,000 hot meals of rice and chicken today in Jabalia and the Qatari camp in Rafah. They also distributed 1,200 food parcels and 1,500 fresh produce baskets in Rafah, Khan Younis and the middle area, providing enough produce to support 33,000 meals. With food parcels, hot meals and fresh vegetables, Anera distributed enough food aid to support 104,000 meals.
With shipments from the Jordan Chamber of Industry, the team also delivered eight bags of rice to a shelter that prepares hot meals, 53,200 cans of hummus, and 1,060 bags of zaatar. The aid went to 20 informal shelters located in Khan Younis, Khan Younis and the middle area.
We received six trucks from UNICEF, carrying hygiene kits, adult diapers and clothing.
Yesterday, with support from the International Rescue Committee, we resumed our psychosocial activities at nine schools in Rafah and the middle area. Some 1,402 children participated.
April 14, 2024
Anera’s Gaza team distributed 23,000 rice and chicken hot meals through our community kitchens in Jabalia and the Qatari camp kitchen. They also distributed 2,000 fresh produce baskets in Rafah, Khan Younis and the middle area, providing enough produce to support 44,000 meals. Between hot meals, fresh produce and food parcels, Anera distributed enough food aid to support 89,500 meals.
We also distributed food and non-food items generously provided by our partner the Jordanian Chamber of Industry (JCI). The aid included 500 food parcels, 4,800 bags of detergent (two per family), 4,800 bottles of hand sanitizer, 12,330 bags of rice, and 1,000 bags of flour. Our team delivered the aid to 30 informal shelters in Khan Younis, Rafah and the middle area.
Between yesterday and today, we received in Gaza 15 trucks from JCI. The trucks were loaded with a variety of commodities, including legumes such as hummus, foul, white beans, and lentils. They also contain items like tomato paste, rice, juice and food parcels.
April 13, 2024
We are in the process of regrouping to resume hot meal distributions through Tekia program of community kitchens. In the wake of World Central Kitchen’s operational halt, we are exploring new supply chains for the raw ingredients to cook meals and return to our previous meal output levels. Today, one out of our seven tekias, the community kitchen in Jabalia, was operational and prepared 20,000 hot meals.
We also distributed a total of 1,000 fresh produce baskets today in Rafah and the middle area, providing enough produce to support 22,000 meals. Between hot meals, fresh produce and food parcels, we distributed enough food aid to support 51,000 meals.
And we have now fully resumed our non-food distributions. Today, we distributed supplies generously provided by our partners, the Jordan Chamber of Industry (JCI) and UNICEF. The items courtesy of JCI included 12,000 400-gram bags of detergent (two bags per family); 12,000 bottles of hand sanitizer (two per family); 6,000 3-kilogram bags of rice distributed to 6,000 families; along with 900 25-kilogram bags of flour and 300 food parcels. And the items supplied by UNICEF that we distributed today included 2,000 tarps and 300 hygiene kits. We also distributed 50 tents today. We distributed these relief supplies to displaced people living in informal shelters in Khan Younis, Rafah, and the middle area.
April 12, 2024
Anera resumed operations in Gaza today. The Gaza team is readying supplies for our community kitchens to begin serving hot meals again. In the meantime, we received two trucks from Jordan Chamber of Industry filled with flour and rice.
The team also distributed Eid gift boxes to children, 20,000 boxes which have long been planned and packaged. The only question was when we would be able to distribute them. Now we can! The Eid boxes are a very special present for kids who have not had any fun, tasty treats since the beginning of the war.
April 11, 2024
Anera is immediately resuming vital humanitarian operations in Gaza. We paused all of our work on April 2, 2024, after Israeli airstrikes killed seven World Central Kitchen workers. Those deaths, on top of the deaths of over 200 other humanitarian aid workers, including Anera’s own Mousa Shawwa, caused our leadership and staff in Gaza to agree on the difficult decision of a temporary suspension, and to seek reassurances for the safe distribution of aid.
Since pausing last week, Anera has been advocating daily and stridently with US and Israeli authorities for the safety of humanitarian staff in Gaza. The international attention and pressure on the safety of aid workers and public statements in the last week by US and Israeli authorities, combined with specific assurances provided to Anera by Israeli authorities in a meeting today, allow Anera to resume vital humanitarian operations.
April 2, 2024
Anera is Pausing Gaza Operations Amid Rising Threats and Attack on WCK
Following the targeted Israeli attack on a humanitarian aid convoy yesterday, resulting in the deaths of seven World Central Kitchen (WCK) workers, Anera is taking the unprecedented step of pausing its humanitarian operations in Gaza.
The killing of WCK humanitarians, occurring less than a month after the still-unexplained killing of Anera staff member Mousa Shawwa, alongside the loss of numerous other aid workers and their families, has led our team to conclude that delivering aid safely is no longer feasible. For the safety of our staff and their families, we are suspending Anera’s work in Gaza.
Since the onset of the war on October 7, Anera’s Gaza team has provided an average of 150,000 meals daily (in collaboration with WCK), millions of medical treatments, and thousands of other critical emergency aid items. While we understand the severe consequences this suspension will have on the Palestinian population, the escalating risks associated with aid delivery leave us with no choice but to halt operations until our staff regain confidence that they can do their work without undue risk.
In nearly six months of conflict, this marks the first instance where our Palestinian staff in Gaza, enduring continuously hazardous conditions, have deemed the risk to their safety, and that of their families, intolerable. Anera’s longstanding presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, spanning over 55 years and enduring through multiple conflicts, underscores the gravity of this decision. The unprecedented scale of the current conflict and the disregard for international law necessitate this historic pause in our operations.
The attack on the seven WCK aid workers constitutes a clear violation of the International Court of Justice’s provisions, emphasizing that humanitarian workers and civilians must never be targeted. The ongoing targeting of humanitarian workers and the lack of adequate safety measures demand thorough investigation and immediate action. Israel bears the ultimate responsibility for ensuring the unhindered delivery of urgent humanitarian assistance and basic services to those in need.
In accordance with international law and principles of humanity, parties with effective control over a population are obligated to provide protection, ensuring the provision of essential supplies for civilian survival. Even if specific obligations under occupation laws do not apply, all parties must uphold the minimum duties outlined in international humanitarian law. Israel, as the occupying authority in Gaza, holds ultimate responsibility for obstructing the delivery of essential supplies and failing to ensure the safety of humanitarian workers.
We reiterate our demand for adequate security for humanitarian and health workers, journalists, and all civilians, and call for an immediate and enduring ceasefire.
April 1, 2024
Today all of Anera’s seven tekias (community kitchens) were operational, serving 77,300 hot meals. Below is a breakdown of the meals:
- Qatari camp tekia in Rafah: 18,000 hot meals (rice and meat)
- Rafah crossing tekia: 7,200 hot meals (rice and meat)
- UN log base tekia: 7,500 hot meals
- Middle area tekia: 9,600 hot meals
- Khan Younis tekia: 6,000 hot meals
- Mawasi, Khan Younis tekia: 9,000 hot meals
- Jabalia tekia: 20,000 hot meals
In addition to our hot meals, we distributed 2,150 fresh produce baskets with 750 to Khan Younis, 700 to Rafah and 650 to the middle area, providing enough produce to support 47,300 meals. Between hot meals and fresh produce, we distributed enough food aid to support 124,600 meal.
We distributed 200 bags of flour and 2,400 bottles of water, provided by GEM to displaced people living in informal shelters in Mawasi, Khan Younis.
Today we received seven trucks to our distribution center in Rafah. The second tent shipment has arrived, bringing with it 160 tents. With this latest delivery, we have now received a total of 704 tents. We also received three trucks from the Jordan Chamber of Industry: one transporting lentil soup; another containing a mix of halva, jam, flour, chocolate, and coffee; and a third carrying wafers. Additionally, we received three UNICEF trucks: one carrying hygiene kits, one carrying water buckets and gallon containers, and another stocked with hygiene kits and diapers.
Yesterday, the team conducted psychosocial activities in 12 schools – eight in Rafah and four in the middle area. 1,577 children participated, with 222 caregivers enjoying the activities alongside their children.
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