Gaza and West Bank Response Log | December 2023

From Ahmad Najjar, Anera’s medical donations program officer in Gaza: Up until yesterday, my family and I were among the lucky few who were able to stay in our home. The war raged around us, but at least we were able to stay put, content with the basic right of having shelter to protect us from the cold and wet.

Now our story has gone the way of so many others in Gaza. We, too, were among those forced to evacuate. I fled my home and left what remained of my memories in it, taking my family to the unknown, where we all immediately became homeless. Read his full account, “From Home to Homeless.”

Today, Anera’s Gaza team provided 7,500 hot meal servings to displaced families in Rafah, at our Takie community kitchen. They provided enough fresh produce in Rafah, Khan Younis, and the middle area to make 82,500 meal servings.

Thanks to the support from Project Hope, the team distributed 240 hygiene kits to host communities in the middle area and informal shelters in Rafah crossing.

The cleaning teams serviced 15 shelters, 10 in Khan Younis and five in Rafah.

Psychosocial support activities engaged 240 children at a UN school shelter in Khan Younis.

Anera’s Sean Carroll appeared on CNN today to talk about the dire humanitarian situation and his recent opinion piece, “The urgent need for humanitarian aid in Gaza,” published in The Hill.

Today we distributed 8,500 servings of hot meals, with beef and rice meals going to the middle area of Gaza, and our new community kitchen providing green beans and rice meals to displaced persons at an informal shelter in Rafah.

We also distributed 280 ready-to-eat food parcels to the middle area, each containing items such as honey, canned tuna, green beans, meat, cheese, foul, tahini, jam, toast, and disposable utensils. We also distributed 2,500 fresh produce baskets today to Rafah, Khan Younis and the middle area in quantities sufficient to prepare 110,000 meals.

We are continuing our daily sanitation cleanings of 15 UN shelter schools in Rafah and Khan Younis.

We held psychosocial support activities at a UN school shelter in Khan Younis today, with 227 children participating. The activities included individual and group drawing sessions, a puppet show, competitive games, and music and dancing. Parents also joined in some of the games with their children. And we held two group sessions for mothers on how to support their children.

After weeks of limited access to food in Gaza, the situation has reached a critical point with severe hunger and an looming threat of famine. Since the start of the war, a near total blockade has restricted needed items from coming into Gaza and Israeli assaults throughout Gaza have caused significant damage to local bakeries, food storage facilities, and transportation routes crucial for delivering humanitarian aid.

The percentage of households in Gaza experiencing severe acute food insecurity is the highest ever documented on a global scale. This surpasses the levels seen in recent years during crises in Afghanistan and Yemen, approaching or even surpassing near-famine conditions.

Today, Anera’s Gaza team provided 16,000 hot meal servings to displaced families in Rafah and the middle area. They also provided enough fresh produce in Rafah, Khan Younis, and the middle area to make 110,000 meal servings.

Today, a shipment of 100 pallets containing donated medicines and healthcare supplies arrived at El Arish airport in Egypt (pictures below). The shipment comes from Direct Relief and came through Jordan in coordination with the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization. Another seven pallets, donated by International Health Partners, also arrived.

Today, Anera’s Gaza team provided 22,000 hot meal servings to displaced families in Rafah and the middle area. They also provided enough fresh produce in Rafah, Khan Younis, and the middle area to make 92,400 meal servings. Our distribution center in Rafah received 8 trucks, with one carrying stoves, two carrying ready-to-eat items, and five carrying kitchen equipment for our community kitchens.

Beyond food aid, our commitment to comprehensive support was evident as 280 children actively engaged in psychosocial support activities at a school in Rafah. This inclusive program catered to 12 injured children, 14 with disabilities, and 23 who have lost family members. The activities, ranging from sports games to singing, music, and drawing, provided a platform for expression and relief. Parents were encouraged to participate, and responsive counselors were available to address the specific needs and challenges faced by both children and parents.

Our dedication extends to maintaining a clean environment, with ongoing efforts to clean 10 UN shelters daily, reinforcing our commitment to providing safe and sanitary spaces for those seeking refuge.

In Gaza, 9 out of 10 people are currently consuming less than one meal a day, creating widespread hunger and impacting everyone. The situation is dire, pushing individuals towards preventable deaths and contributing to the breakdown of Gaza’s society. Adding to the challenges, ongoing bombings exacerbate the difficulties in delivering humanitarian aid and programs. The overwhelming needs place immense pressure on our staff, who are working tirelessly to support their communities.

In the occupied West Bank’s northern region, a drone strike during a raid on a refugee camp resulted in the tragic loss of at least six Palestinian lives. The strike unfolded overnight in the Nur Shams refugee camp near Tulkarem, as confirmed by reports from the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) and health officials on Wednesday. Concurrently, Israeli forces expanded their operations throughout the territory, escalating the tension and risk for further incidents.

Today, we distributed a total of 15,000 hot meals across Rafah, the middle area, and Khan Younis. Notably, our inaugural community kitchen began operations at an informal shelter in Rafah, offering meals primarily composed of white beans and rice. With the goal of expanding our impact, we plan to grow this initiative in the coming days to serve an even larger number in the area.

We furthered our support by distributing 2,500 fresh produce baskets to Rafah, Khan Younis, and the middle area, ensuring enough produce to facilitate the preparation of 110,000 meals. Thanks to the support from Project Hope, 720 hygiene kits were delivered to our warehouse, with 480 distributed so far to host communities in the middle area and informal shelters in Rafah crossing.

In total, 34,000 individuals received nutritious and warm meals today, addressing immediate hunger concerns.

Our commitment to maintaining clean and safe shelters persisted as we continued cleaning 10 UN shelters per day. Simultaneously, we engaged in psychological and social support activities at a UN shelter in Khan Younis, involving 270 children, including 2 with disabilities, 5 who have lost family members, and 15 enrolled in psychological counseling programs. Recognizing the psychological and behavioral challenges arising from food shortages and exposure to cold weather, our activity leaders initiated counseling sessions to address and support the affected children’s well-being.

To reinforce our ongoing efforts, today witnessed the arrival of 8 trucks at our warehouse, carrying essential supplies such as kitchen smart pallets, charcoal, wood pallets, flour, stoves, and other canned food. This influx of resources is vital for us to continue providing critical aid to those in need.

December 26, 2023
A Washington Post analysis based on satellite imagery and other data has concluded that “Israel has carried out its war in Gaza at a pace and level of devastation that likely exceeds any recent conflict,” including “repeated and widespread airstrikes in proximity to hospitals.” An excerpt:

Tom Potokar, a chief surgeon with the International Committee of the Red Cross working in Gaza for the 14th time, said explosive injuries were responsible for all the wounds he and his colleagues at European Hospital in southern Gaza had been treating. Many patients had necrotic wounds requiring amputation due to the lack of supplies and equipment at battered and besieged hospitals in the north. “For me, personally, this is without a doubt the worst I’ve seen,” said Potokar, who has worked during conflicts in South Sudan, Yemen, Syria, Somalia and Ukraine.

Today, we distributed 30,000 servings of hot meals of beef and rice to Rafah, the middle area, and Khan Younis. We also distributed 2,500 fresh produce baskets today to Rafah, Khan Younis and the middle area, with enough supply of produce to support 110,000 meals.

Anera held psychosocial support activities at one shelter school in Rafah for 310 children, including 27 who are injured, 15 with disabilities, and 31 who have lost family members. The activities included games, puppetry and more. There were also four individual counseling sessions and two group sessions for the parents.

We continue to clean 10 UN shelters per day.

Yesterday, we distributed 50,000 servings of hot meals to Rafah, the middle area, and Khan Younis. The meals consisted of either meat or kebab and rice. On December 25, we also distributed 4,600 fresh produce baskets in quantities sufficient to prepare 202,400 meals to Rafah, Khan Younis and the middle area.

We have also received hygiene kits from Project HOPE into Gaza and have distributed 480 of the kits so far to host communities in the middle area and informal shelters in Rafah crossing.

Our Gaza team distributed hot meals to serve 44,000 people in Rafah, the middle area, and Khan Younis. We purchased the meat with funding from PCRF. The team also delivered, in the same areas, enough fresh produce to make 114,400 meal servings. And our cleaning contractors serviced 10 school shelters in Khan Younis.  

Yesterday, Anera President Sean Carroll left Gaza after a 48-hour visit with staff and partners. Under ‘normal’ circumstances, staff from our West Bank or Jerusalem offices would be doing many trips to Gaza. However, the only people who can go in right now are internationals. Our Palestinian staff cannot get permission to enter. As president, Sean well knows the scope and breadth of Anera’s programs and the support we have received to conduct them. His meetings with partner organizations were therefore very helpful for planning further coordination and collaboration.

Heavy bombardments from air, land, and sea, continued across Gaza, with the most intense shelling reported in Beit Hanoun, Jabalia, and Beit Lahia, all in the north. On December 19th, for the sixth consecutive day, most areas of Gaza had no telecommunications or internet services, severely affecting emergency operations and access to information. Read more from the UNOCHA’s flash update.

Yesterday, Anera President and CEO Sean Carroll entered Gaza for a two-day visit with staff and partners.

Anera’s Gaza team delivered 38,000 hot meal servings to displaced families in Rafah, the middle area and Khan Younis. And they distributed enough fresh produce to make 105,600 meal servings to the same areas. Anera’s psychosocial activities were conducted at one school in Khan Younis with 290 children participating in drawing sessions, puppet shows, racing games, and singing. In addition to engaging with the children, counselors worked closely with parents to provide guidance on handling children’s behaviors and addressing their stresses. Our school shelter cleanings also continue.

Between yesterday and today, Anera received and coordinated the delivery of trucks carrying 35 water tanks to ETA Company, a prominent water purification company in Palestine, for installation. These tanks will be filled twice a day, ensuring a sustainable supply of drinkable water for communities and internally displaced persons.

“For two weeks, it’s been obvious that starvation is coming. There is no flour, rice, sugar, milk, diapers, napkins or most basic human necessities. If you can find anything, it costs approximately tenfold the normal price.” — Mahmoud al-Banna, a resident of northern Gaza (Washington Post, Dec. 18)

We distributed 44,000 servings of hot meals today, with 26,000 meat-based meals going to Rafah and the middle area and 18,000 kebab meals going to Khan Younis. We also distributed 2,400 fresh produce baskets across Khan Younis, Rafah and the middle area, providing enough fresh food to support 105,600 meals — sustaining recipient families of five for six days.

We conducted psychosocial support activities at a school in Khan Younes, with a total of 280 children participating, including seven injured children and 20 who have lost parents. The activities included exercises to engage the children: imitating sounds and vowels, drawing and performing drama sketches. In addition to the activities for children, we organized a group session with mothers, providing advice on how to deal with children before going to bed. A separate session was dedicated to injured children, guiding them in relaxation exercises to practice before bedtime. Our school shelter cleanings also continue.

In the last four days we have received a total of 15 trucks carrying 1,986 mattresses donated by Project HOPE that we are now distributing to displaced families.

Two clarifications to yesterday’s update: only 92 of the water tanks that we received arrived in good condition. We are distributing the 92 tanks for installation and conducting an investigation into how the others were damaged. Also, the graphic yesterday reflected an incorrect truck total – the number is now updated to reflect the accurate count.

This morning, 124 water tanks were transported into Gaza and are scheduled for direct shipment to ETA Company, a prominent water purification company in Palestine, for installation. These tanks will be filled twice a day, ensuring a sustainable supply of drinkable water for communities and internally displaced persons (IDPs) beyond schools, reflecting our commitment to supporting various communities and IDPs.

We also were able to successfully distribute 44,000 meat-based hot meals to Rafah, Khan Younis, and the middle area of Gaza. Additionally, fresh produce baskets were distributed, providing enough fresh produce to make 110,440 meals.

We’ve made significant progress in establishing our first WCK/Anera community kitchen, named ‘tekia,’ located on the border between Rafah and Khan Younis. With a capacity to feed 2,000 people, we are actively setting up and exploring additional locations for more kitchens to expand our impact and feed more displaced people in Gaza.

Our psychosocial activities today were held in a hard-to-reach school in Khan Younis, starting at 8:00 am. These activities, engaging 150 children, included games involving music, dancing, drawing, and competitive games.

The ongoing efforts include the daily cleaning of 10 schools and the continuation of the winter clothes vouchers activity in Khan Younis.

Telecommunications connectivity is gradually returning across Gaza.

Last week Israeli forces raided Kamal Adwan Hospital in Gaza City and bulldozed the grounds, reducing the facility to rubble. OCHA reports that “According to initial reports by media and video footage, an Israeli military bulldozer flattened the tents of a number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) outside the hospital, killing and wounding an unconfirmed number of people.” Only 11 of Gaza’s 36 hospitals remain functional.

We managed to talk with several of our staff in Gaza today. We can now report that yesterday (Dec. 16), Anera distributed 44,000 hot meals — consisting of 26,000 servings of meat-based hot meals, including 22,000 in Rafah and 4,000 in the middle area, and 18,000 servings of kebab meals in Khan Younis. Yesterday, we also distributed 2,200 fresh produce baskets with 1,000 going to Khan Younis, 600 in Rafah and 600 in the middle area, providing enough fresh produce for 96,800 meals. 

Today, we again distributed 44,000 hot meal servings, including meat and kebab meals in the same proportions as yesterday. We also distributed 2,400 fresh produce baskets in Khan Younis, Rafah and the middle area, providing enough fresh produce to support 105,600 meals. Households received enough to supply a family of five for six days.

Today we hosted several hours of psychosocial support activities in two schools in Khan Younis. The activities included music and games, including friendly competitive games, to encourage movement. A total of 250 children participated in these activities. 

We have continued to clean 10 schools each day and also continue with the winter clothes vouchers in Khan Younis.

We have no program updates today. An ongoing communications blackout – the longest since the war began – has made it impossible to communicate with our staff inside Gaza today.

“Now 48 hours and counting. The incident is likely to limit reporting and visibility to events on the ground,” Alp Toker of the internet monitoring organization NetBlocks told the Associated Press today.

We received the following photos from our program team yesterday of blankets and hot meals distributions.

In the ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza, heavy Israeli bombardments persist, resulting in significant casualties and destruction. Between December 12 and 13, at least 196 Palestinians were killed and 499 injured, adding to a grim toll of 18,608 fatalities and 50,594 injuries since October 7.

Humanitarian aid faces challenges, with limited distributions and aid truck screenings at the Kerem Shalom crossing. The UN stresses the need for a complete reopening of Kerem Shalom for effective humanitarian assistance. On December 13, 152 trucks with supplies entered Gaza from Egypt, but challenges such as fuel shortages, communication blackouts, and staff safety concerns hinder aid reception within Gaza. Read the latest flash update from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Anera’s Gaza team distributed a total of 41,000 hot meal servings between Rafah, Khan Younis and the middle area of Gaza, and in the same areas they distributed enough fresh produce to make 101,200 meals. They also delivered 1,600 blankets, from Project Hope, to a shelter in Khan Younis.

Today our psychosocial support program held activities at three schools with 650 children participating. The activities included face painting, songs, and games.

We received 4 trucks, two carrying food and two carrying wood charcoal, at our distribution center in Rafah.

We continue to clean 10 UN shelters a day in Khan Younis.

Today, Anera’s Gaza team distributed 32,000 hot meal servings in Rafah, Khan Younis and in the middle area. The team also distributed enough fresh produce to make 101,200 meals.

Today our psychosocial support program held activities at three schools (Altaef , Khawla Bent Al Azwar, and Wow) with nearly 700 children participating. The activities included face painting, songs, and games. We continue to clean 10 UN shelters a day in Khan Younis.

And, with generous support from Islamic Relief USA, as of today 4,600 displaced people have redeemed their vouchers for winter clothes.

Between December 9 and 10, the Gaza conflict escalated with 297 Palestinians killed, heavy Israeli bombardments, and ongoing fighting. Health facilities in Gaza were attacked, hindering medical aid. A UN and PRCS convoy faced delays and gunfire while delivering supplies to Al Ahli Arab hospital. Israeli forces reportedly detained hundreds, subjecting them to harsh conditions. Tens of thousands of displaced persons in Rafah continue to face severe overcrowding and dire conditions. Aid distribution is still constrained by the closures between governorates. Read the latest flash update from the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Anera’s team in Gaza distributed 34,000 hot meal servings in Rafah, the middle area and Khan Younis. They also delivered enough fresh produce to make 92,400 meal servings.

With support from IRUSA, the team distributed 500 winter clothes vouchers for families to redeem at local stores. So far, 4,500 families have received vouchers.

Anera coordinated psychosocial support activities at two schools in Rafah today, with 400 children participating in competitive activities like races and games.

Our team received in the new Rafah distribution center 8 trucks, 7 carrying food and 1 carrying blankets.

Anera has installed a temporary solar array in close proximity to a preschool in Rafah. These panels are currently supplying power to a previously inactive reverse osmosis system, which had ceased operation due to electricity cuts and the depletion of fuel reserves. As a result, the reverse osmosis system has been reactivated and is now generating fresh, potable water to meet the needs of the displaced families at the location.

Anera’s team in Gaza distributed 24,000 hot meal servings in Rafah and enough fresh produce to make 114,400 meal servings in Rafah and Khan Younis.

With support from IRUSA, the team distributed 500 winter clothes vouchers for families to redeem at local stores. So far, 4,000 families have received vouchers.

We learned today that, despite the bombings and upheaval in Khan Younis, our cleaning teams have managed to continue to service shelters there for the past several days.

Anera coordinated psychosocial support activities at two schools in Rafah today, with 400 children participating in competitive activities like races and games. Mothers also gathered for their own sessions to talk about the traumas they and their families are experiencing.

Our team received in the new Rafah distribution center 4 trucks carrying blankets and food.

Our Gaza team managed to distribute 20,000 hot meal servings today and enough fresh produce to make 70,400 meals. The food was distributed in the middle area and Rafah.

Our daily school shelter cleanings continue.

We are also working on distributing winterization shelter supplies to people sleeping in the streets before the expected rain this coming Monday and Tuesday.

We held psychosocial support activities at two schools in Rafah today, with 400 children participating in competitive activities like races and games. The school shelters are becoming more crowded due to the arrival of so many displaced families from Khan Younis.

In coordination with Project HOPE, today Anera started providing medications to people in Deir el-Balah through two popup medical clinics.

Yesterday was probably one of the worst days since the start of the war for Deir Al Balah and Khan Younis. These are the areas where people from the north evacuated to. Now they are evacuating yet again.

We received this communication from one of our staffers who lives in Khan Younis: “The situation is very, very critical, especially in Khan Younis, and we have prepared ourselves for evacuation to Rafah at any moment. But we don’t know where to go. Shelters now are overwhelmed, so are mosques and even streets.”

Our Gaza staffers have had to shift geographic areas of focus. They’re not stopping delivering relief, rather they are forced by circumstances to concentrate their efforts in a tiny area of Gaza, Rafah, despite the enormous need in all places. Distributions are on pause in other areas, because it is just too dangerous for our colleagues.

Despite the precarious situation, our heroic team managed to distribute 16,000 hot meal servings today and enough fresh produce to make 44,000 meals. They also coordinated psychosocial activities in three schools, engaging about 450 children in fun, healing activities.

And 9 Anera-WCK trucks crossed the border into Gaza, carrying items like water, oil, charcoal, yeast, canned meat. Total WCK trucks to date is 84.

The Israeli military is now separating Khan Younis from other areas and subjecting it to heavy bombing and ground operations. People in Khan Younis are being forced to evacuate to Rafah. Moving between areas is nearly impossible. The situation feels particularly dangerous now. Gaza was subjected to nonstop bombing and armaments fire last night. Our team in Gaza are always glad to see the sunrise, even if daylight doesn’t bring an end to the bombing.

Yesterday we published the first entry in Voices From Gaza: A Collective Journal, a blog post that will be updated semi-regularly.

The heightened military operations in the south are making our operations increasingly difficult and dangerous, limiting the areas where we can work. Today, we delivered 9,000 servings of hot meals and fresh produce baskets for 22,000 servings to Rafah.

We also provided psychosocial support activities in two shelter-schools in Rafah today, with nearly 400 children participating in playing organized games and singing songs. We also conducted adult psychosocial support, with 50 women in the same school shelters participating.

Anera also continues to prepare support for mobile, popup medical clinics providing free healthcare.

We served a total of 32,000 hot meals today. This includes distributing 11,500 meals, with 4,500 reaching UN shelters in Rafah, 5,000 to shelters in Khan Younis, and 2,000 to the middle area, serving a total of 23,000 people. Additionally, we distributed 3,000 kebab meals in Khan Younis, providing meals for 9,000 people.

On the fresh produce front, we delivered 2,100 baskets to UN shelters in Khan Younis, the middle area, and Rafah. This is enough to provide produce for an incredible 92,400 meals!

Winter Clothes Distribution Update: Our Gaza team, with support from IRUSA, initiated the distribution of winter clothes using vouchers. This week-long intervention aims to assist 5,000 displaced individuals. So far, approximately 1,500 people have redeemed their vouchers.

Truck Update: Six trucks from WCK entered Gaza, transporting essential items, including aluminum pans, rice, and tomato sauce. This brings the total number of WCK trucks to date to 67.

Psychosocial Activities: Despite challenges, engaging psychosocial activities took place at three schools, involving 400 children. Unfortunately, escalations in the area forced the conclusion of today’s events to prioritize the safety of all participants. The day featured friendly competitive games, races, and sessions incorporating songs and painting.

Shelter Cleaning: Our daily commitment continues as we clean and maintain 10 UN shelters – working to improve living conditions for those seeking refuge.

The ceasefire has ended. Airstrikes resumed in Gaza. Israel has issued more evacuation orders for Jabalia, Shejaiya, Zeitoun, old city in Gaza City, and eastern Khan Younis, where a large number of displaced families are sheltering. A message from one our Gaza staff today: “No one is safe. There is no [physical] security. The problem is that we in Gaza have been left all alone.“

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 our cleaners serviced 10 UN shelters in Khan Younis.

Truck update: 15 WCK/Anera trucks came through the border before hostilities recommenced. They contain rice, canned foods and oil. The total number of World Central Kitchen trucks to date is 54.