Piles of fruit and vegetables in the back of a lorry in Gaza.

Vegetable packages.distributed by Oxfam and Economic and Social Development Center of Palestine (ESDC). Photo: ESDC / Oxfam.

Distributing food to displaced families in Gaza

As the crisis in Gaza continues to unfold and intensify, we are working with several local organisations including the Economic and Social Development Center of Palestine (ESDC) to provide urgent support to displaced families.

With prices soaring in the region, many families lack access to necessities including food, water and shelter. To support families who have been impacted by this crisis, the ESDC have been distributing urgent food packages – reaching 3,000 household to families who are facing hunger thus far.

Photo: PARC / Oxfam.

As part of this initiative, Oxfam also work in partnership with the Palestinian Agriculture Relief Committee (PARC), to distribute food parcels to 6000 households, as well as winter relief packages to 288 households.

Staff from PARC reported in January that the situation facing families who have been internally displaced is worse than anyone can imagine. Although shelters are being given out to as many people as possible, there is still a severe shortage and these makeshift tents are not equipped to handle the elements. An anonymous PARC staff member describes that overcrowding in Rafah has become so severe that, “people are starting to sit on top of the rubble and the bombed buildings, putting some pieces of plastic paper to sit on because there is no other place to go.”

People are continuously exposed to diseases and influenza, so you can’t imagine the situation now.”

An anonymous PARC staff member, Gaza

He states: “Generally, in winter times, when it is freezing, people usually sit in a closed place. People are continuously exposed to diseases and influenza, so you can’t imagine the situation now. People live in overcrowded places, whether in tents or shelters, since they don’t have winter or blankets to protect themselves from the cold or winter.”

Photo: Alef Multimedia / Oxfam.

An Oxfam-branded water container being filled at a newly installed desalination unit in South Gaza.

Displaced people in Rafah in South Gaza use the newly installed desalination units that Oxfam and local partners have provided.

A number of the partners we work with, including the Youth Empowerment Center (YEC), are also working tirelessly to help address the critical water crisis in Gaza. So far YEC has provided clean drinking water to 44,333 individuals.

Water Desalination units in Rafah, South Gaza

Alongside this work, local partners like Coastal Municipalities Water Utility (CMWU), Palestinian Environmental Friends (PEF) and Bayader, have been installing solar-powered desalination units at key sites. These sites which provide access to drinking water, toilets and showers which are essential for displaced communities who have not had regular access to clean water for months. To continue supporting during this emergency, PEF are in the process of building toilet blocks to service 10,000 individuals.

Gaza relief in numbers

6,000
households

have received food parcels from the Palestinian Agriculture Relief Committee (PARC).

10,000
people

are being provided with toilet facilities by Palestinian Environmental Friends (PEF).

44,333
individuals

have been provided with clean drinking water by the Youth Empowerment Center (YEC).

Our collective goal is to deliver a minimum of 3 litres per day to a population of 25,600 using advanced desalination technology. Oxfam remains dedicated to immediate and lasting solutions for safe water access in Gaza.

This Ramadan, amplify your impact, embody the spirit of collective generosity, and join Oxfam in working hand-in-hand with communities facing poverty.

Children in Mawasi Rafah are playing among their parents and among the tents their parents built after being forcibly displaced from Gaza City and the North Gaza Strip. Photo: Alef Multimedia / Oxfam.

Children in Mawasi Rafah are playing among their parents and among the tents their parents built after being forcibly displaced from Gaza City and the North Gaza Strip.