Gaza and West Bank Response Log | November 2023

Truck update: 13 World Central Kitchen trucks arrived at our distribution center: six carrying water, two carrying cooking oil, two with rice, one with lentils, one with canned foul, and one carrying yeast, cheese and tomato paste. The total number of WCK trucks to date is 39.

Also through the border and on the way to our distribution center are three Global Empowerment Mission trucks: two carrying water and one with blankets. One Project Hope truck carrying 750 hygiene kits crossed the border and is also on its way to our distribution center.

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.

Psychosocial activities took place today in two schools and one shelter center in Rafah. Approximately 330 children actively participated in engaging activities that included face painting, dancing, and friendly games.

Every year, November 29 marks International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People — a date observed by the United Nation for over four decades. Learn more about how you can support Palestine and Palestinians.

Anera’s amazing 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 partnership with the NAFS for Empowerment, a local psychological and social counseling organization, Anera coordinated psychosocial support activities today at one UN shelter with ~200 children participating in the activities which included competitive games and ball games.

Today marked the fifth consecutive day of a pause in fighting between Israel and Hamas.

Approximately 1.8 million Gazans, nearly 80% of the population, are internally displaced, with around 1.1 million in UNRWA facilities. On November 26, 13,000 more sought refuge in UNRWA shelters in the south. An estimated 191,000 IDPs are in public schools, hospitals, and other venues. Overcrowded UNRWA shelters have led to increased communicable diseases. Vulnerable groups, including people with disabilities and pregnant women, face challenges in difficult shelter conditions.

Across Gaza, 46,000 homes are destroyed, and 234,000 housing units are damaged, constituting over 60% of the housing stock. Read the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs flash update.

Two trucks carrying water and charcoal came through the border and delivered their contents to our Rafah warehouse. The supplies and trucks came through World Central Kitchen, Anera’s primary partner in food relief efforts. WCK truck count total: 23 received in Gaza.

Two trucks from Americares has come through the Rafah border have just been unloaded. The trucks contained six tons of desperately needed surgical supplies, bandages, antibiotics, oral rehydration salts and labor and delivery supplies.

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.

In partnership with the NAFS for Empowerment, a local psychological and social counseling organization, Anera coordinated psychosocial support activities today at three UN shelters with ~350 children participating in the activities which included competitive games and ball games.

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 Rafah 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.