An Oxfam staff member preparing food parcels to be distributed in North Gaza.
Distributing food and clean water to families in Gaza
Israel’s war on Gaza has taken a devastating toll on civilians and fuelled further Israeli escalations in violence in Lebanon and across the wider region.
A temporary, fragile ceasefire is now in place in Gaza, but it is under threat.
Since the start of the war, all of Gaza is at risk of famine. And the government of Israel is now restricting all humanitarian aid from entering – a clear breach of international humanitarian law.
Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians can return to what remains of their homes. But the future remains uncertain.
Read on to find out what our local partners are doing to support their community.
Oxfam teams and partners have reached more than 1.2 million people with essential support since October 2023, including:
- Emergency food assistance, food parcels, cash and vouchers.
- Clean water and sanitation; by trucking in water and repairing badly damaged water and wastewater pipelines.
- First aid kits, hygiene kits, protection kits and cleaning supplies.
- Blankets, mattresses and sleeping mats to families forced to live in tents.
Photo: PARC / Oxfam.
Our partners include
The Palestinian Medical Relief Society, Juzoor, The Cultural & Free Thoughts Association, Palestinian Environmental Friends, Palestine Agricultural Relief Committee, Atfaluna, The Association for Woman and Child Protection, the Economic and Social Development Centre of Palestine, and Al Bayader.
Food Parcels in Gaza
Oxfam and our partner Economic & Social Development Center of Palestine (ESDC) distributed vegetables baskets among internally displaced people and affected communities in Deir Al Balah and Khan Younis.
The vegetable baskets included items like tomatoes, cucumbers, and lemons. Most of these items are sold in the local market for high prices that people cannot afford.
In total, 2,500 vegetable baskets were distributed in Khan Younis (1,212) and the Middle Area (1,288) via ESDC. A feedback mechanism was developed to ensure those receiving the parcels could have their say on the parcels. Oxfam has continued to work to provide assistance.
Shahinaz's story
After being displaced from Gaza City, Shahinaz, stepped up to volunteer in a camp, determined to support her community amidst overwhelming challenges. The wet winter weather brought extra complications. Oxfam and partner Palestinian Environmental Friends - PEF assisted through the installation of sandbags, the provision of cleaning tools and personal protective equipment, including masks and gloves. Water trucks were used to fill tanks, making sure everyone had access to clean water. Additionally, they promoted good hygiene practices to keep their community safe and healthy.
What's happening in gaza
Israel has breached the temporary ceasefire agreement that came into effect in January. The military has resumed airstrikes across Gaza, killing over 400 people and injuring hundreds more.
- Since the beginning of the conflict tens of thousands of Palestinians have been killed.
- Gaza is once again under a full siege - all food, fuel, electricity and humanitarian aid has been cut off.
- There is not enough clean, safe water in Gaza. Water and sanitation systems are shattered. The situation is desperate.
- Many people remain living in makeshift tents and shelters.
- Gaza's medical system is struggling to cope with the number of casualties and hospitals are critically low on supplies.
This Ramadan, embody the spirit of collective generosity and join Oxfam in working hand-in-hand with communities across the world.
An Oxfam staff member preparing food parcels to be distributed in North Gaza.