Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory: a catastrophic humanitarian crisis
In the last six months more than 34,000 people - including children - have been killed in Israel, Gaza and the West Bank since 7 October, and over 85,000 have been injured.
It is civilians who are paying the highest price. In all communities, families are grieving those killed, treating the injured and yearning to be reunited with loved ones held captive. Thousands more people have fled their homes and are desperately seeking safety.
Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies are working day and night, risking – and losing – their lives while helping others. They are seeing extreme levels of death, danger and destruction. Yet, even amid this chaos, they are still doing all they can to reach and give comfort to people experiencing this horror. Your help makes this possible.
In Gaza, our teams are extremely concerned about the lack of food. A staggering 2.2 million people – the entire population – are projected to face high levels of acute food insecurity.
Three-quarters of Gaza’s population have been forced to leave their homes behind and have nowhere to go. Many are staying in tents, cars or even outside, relying on flimsy pieces of cardboard to protect them in the coldest and wettest months. On top of this, the health system is now in survival mode, and people, including children, are going without clean drinking water or proper sanitation.
The situation is bleak. But Red Cross and Red Crescent teams have been working hard to get aid truck deliveries across the Rafah border into Gaza with vital medical supplies, tents and blankets, as well as food, water, milk and nappies. It is urgent, dangerous work – and with your support we can continue to bring help and hope to those who need it.
Safe access to hostages is still a concern. And although 109 captives have been reunited with their loved ones, there are still over 100 people being held. Their families have endured months of emotional turmoil and many have had no news of their loved ones.
We are here to alleviate people’s suffering, whoever and wherever they are. And we will keep giving life-saving relief to people experiencing the horrors of the ongoing violence in Gaza, the West Bank, and Israel for as long as we are needed. But we can’t do this without you.
The best way for you to help is by donating today.
Donate to the Israel and Occupied Palestinian Territory Appeal
What is the Red Cross doing to help people in Gaza, the West Bank and Israel?
Staff and volunteers from Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS), Magen David Adom (MDA) and the ICRC are on the ground responding in Gaza, the West Bank and Israel right now, and have been since October.
As local and national responders, both have trusted relationships with their local communities and the unique ability to provide far-reaching humanitarian and medical services.
The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) is the leading provider of emergency medical services in Gaza and the West Bank. Paramedics have been providing first aid and emergency healthcare, including transporting people in ambulances. Teams also provide psychosocial first aid, distribute aid and support displaced people.
In Gaza, the Palestine Red Crescent Society, supported by the wider movement, has:
- provided essential household items, blankets, hygiene parcels and other items to over 630,000 people who have left their homes
- supported over 200,000 people with health services
- provided psychosocial support to almost 60,000 people
- reached around 18,000 people via emergency medical services
- established 12 camps and sheltering over 1,100 families
- received over 12,000 trucks of humanitarian aid from the Egyptian Red Crescent Society (ERCS) via the Rafah crossing, around half of which have been distributed by PRCS
- performed over 1,600 surgical procedures at the European Gaza Hospital
- provided 160 metric tonnes of medical supplies to eight health facilities and supported emergency power supply for 14 hospitals
- helped more than 300,000 people to access clean water
In the West Bank, the Palestine Red Crescent Society, supported by the wider movement, has:
- responded to over 4,000 injuries
- distributed food parcels to 7,140 families comprising 42,840 people
- helped gain safe access for ambulances treating the injured
- provided over 1,000 litres of IV fluid to emergency health facilities
- given emergency cash assistance to help people meet their immediate needs
In Israel, Magen David Adom provides Israel's sole national blood and medical emergency service. Their relief work includes:
- mobilising 1,500 ambulances and 10,000 first responders
- 130 additional teams on active duty on top of regular activities
- conducted trauma first aid training sessions attended by 60,000 people
- collected, tested, and processed over 118,000 units of blood
- treated over 4,000 patients
- provided over 600 litres of substitute milk for infants
The ICRC are providing humanitarian assistance as required on both sides and are advocating on behalf of the hostages still held in Gaza - requesting information, working to gain access to them and seeking to secure their release. The ICRC also supported the delivery of stress management training to frontline health workers and delivered two training courses in Israel.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is working with ERCS and PRCS for the transportation of aid into Gaza. Besides, the ERCS has also:
- carried out more than 2,500 medical evacuations from Gaza to Egypt
- supported the establishment of two shelter camps hosting 5,600 people near Rafah
- supported people through 61 service points in Rafah
How to help people in Israel and Gaza
People continue to need much more humanitarian support in the months to come. If you are in the UK, the best and quickest way to help support those affected by the emergency in Gaza and Israel is to donate to our appeal. Donations made to the appeal will go towards helping people in Israel, Gaza and the West Bank affected by the conflict.
Donate to the Israel and Occupied Palestinian Territory Appeal
The importance of neutrality and impartiality
We are a humanitarian charity that stands for neutrality and impartiality in times of crisis – these principles are the beating heart of every single action we take. Our neutrality is what allows us to access communities, gain trust and work behind the scenes to get help where it’s needed most. As a humanitarian charity, we are not here to take sides. We are not here to measure one life against another. We are here to relieve suffering – and we will continue to do all we can.