ITF Emergency Response in Gaza

According to the Ministry of Health in Gaza, as of 15 January 2025, at least 46,006 Palestinians have been martyred and 109,378 are wounded since October 7, 2023. 59.1 percent of those killed were women, children and people over the age of 65. That toll represented 2.9 percent of Gaza’s pre-war population, “or approximately one in 35 inhabitants,”

The toll was only for deaths from traumatic injuries, so did not include deaths from a lack of healthcare or food, or the thousands of missing believed to be buried under rubble.

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And up to 1.9 million people in Gaza are internally displaced, including people who have been displaced nine or 10 times or even 20. Previous estimates were 1.7 million, but this was before the operation in Rafah, and since May there have been additional displacements from Rafah and other parts across the Gaza Strip.  And as many as 92 per cent of houses in the Gaza Strip have been destroyed or damaged in Gaza, according to the United Nations (UN).

The strikes launched by Israeli Forces with aerial, land and maritime bombardment across the Gaza Strip resulted in civilian casualties, displacement and the destruction of residential structures and civilian infrastructure.

Amid only scant access to water and sanitation, communicable diseases and skin infections continue to rage across Gaza, highlighted WHO, UNICEF and UNRWA this week. Similarly, PCD warned that overcrowding of displaced people in areas that lack water, hygiene and a sewage system has already led to the spread of diseases, including skin diseases among children.

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Mentioning all the above deteriorating and catastrophic conditions that the Gaza strip is experiencing for almost 15 months now, MHPC centre with support of ITF launches this project as an emergency intervention in trying to help people who are literally facing many different shapes of death alone, supporting them with all possible ways like providing evacuees people who live in tents in this cold winter with blankets, warm clothes, one of their daily main struggle to survive in cold weather. It has been reported that six infants and one adult have been killed by a severe cold.

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​In response to the deteriorating situation in the strip, the following activities have been implemented during the first phase of the project duration:

 

· Water Delivery to Evacuees in Tents – 17 truckloads of clean water delivered to displacement camps, benefiting around 1,000 people.

· Distribution of  Tents, Blankets, and Warm Clothes – 130 tents, 130 blankets, and 130 clothing sets distributed.

· Provision of Infant Milk and Diapers – 200 newborns supplied with monthly packages of formula milk and diapers.

· Women’s Hygiene Kits Distribution – 60 women provided with hygiene kits containing soap, sanitary pads, and other essential items.

· Food Support (Bread, Flour, and Vegetables) – 125 families (approx. 700 people) received essential food items to reduce hunger.