Rumors have circulated falsely alleging that Anera’s beneficiary lists are made behind closed doors, and only those with connections get on them. Anera works through a wide network of trusted local partners – including health 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.
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 – an approach consistent with standard practices used by other international NGOs operating in Gaza. We maintain distribution lists for all commodities we distribute, such as food parcels, hygiene kits, and packaged hot meals.
For cooked meals prepared through contracted kitchens and dished into bowls and pans that people bring for filling, meals are provided on a first-come, first-served basis, with no list used. Similarly, our health services are open to anyone in need, without the use of predefined distribution lists.
Anera’s primary focus when selecting beneficiaries is to ensure that aid reaches the most vulnerable. We use clear eligibility criteria, prioritizing households with five or more members, female-headed households, and families that include individuals with disabilities, orphans, or pregnant or lactating women. While these groups receive priority, the widespread level of need in Gaza means we also extend distributions to other households whenever possible to ensure broader support and equitable access to aid.
When demand exceeds our capacity, we maintain a waiting list system so that individuals who do not reach immediately can still be considered for future distributions. Our goal is to serve as many vulnerable families as possible, with fairness, dignity and transparency.
