Violence escalated in Gaza on October 7th when Palestinian armed groups launched rockets and invaded Israel. The Israeli Prime Minister declared war, cutting off Gaza’s electricity and launching retaliatory air strikes. The Israeli ground offensive intensified from November 6th, with claims of fully encircling Gaza city. As of November 14th, the death toll is reported 11,240 (4,630 children), 27,490 injured, and 3,250 missing. Over 70% of Gaza’s 2.3 million people are displaced, facing urgent needs and protection risks. Hospitals are crippled, with more than 50% non-functional, prioritizing emergency care due to fuel and supply shortages. Before the conflict, 81.5% of the population already relied on international aid for survival and basic services.
The Joint Response
The joint response partners will carry out the following activities in response to the needs and gaps observed:
Water, Sanitation, Hygiene (WASH)
- Women, men, boys and girls in Gaza have access to dignified domestic water and sanitation services and essential hygiene items through:
- Repair and maintenance of damaged WASH infrastructures to mitigate public health threats;
- Distribution of hygiene, dignity and baby kits to affected families in line with the sectorial Cluster guidelines.
Protection
- Provision of child protection and case management services for vulnerable persons and children facing high-level protection threats;
- Distribution of kits and immediate supplies for affected households (this might include distribution of Psychosocial Support kits, food kits, hygiene kits, clothes, etc.);
- Provision of psychological individual and group sessions for traumatised children and adults including referrals to specialized Mental Health and Psychosocial Support service providers when needed
- Setup of child friendly spaces where children can participate in recreational, educational and psychosocial support activities.
- Awareness raising on protection and gender based violence through community engagement, during emergency risk induction sessions and through distributing Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse awareness leaflets
Multi-purpose cash
- Provision of Multi-purpose Cash Assistance for vulnerable households
Health including Mental Health and Psychosocial Support
- Provide holistic and multi-layered Mental Health and Psychosocial Support services to vulnerable children and caregivers, including Psychological First Aid sessions, specialised Mental Health services, individual and group counselling, and group-based Psychosocial Support interventions
- Providing safe deliveries for pregnant women including specialised care for urgent cases
- Providing primary health care to the wounded, pregnant and lactating women, elderly, chronically ill and infants including mobile clinics, follow up visits and referrals when needed
- Providing first aid kits and first aid training to community members and focal points selected from communal shelters, to empower them to deliver first aid response
Shelter & Non Food Items
- Distribution of proper clothing and winterisation kits to enable people to endure the winter cold.
- Distribution of essential items for newborns and for pregnant and lactating women such as breast pads, nipple cream/moisturizers, babies diapers, blankets, bottles etc.
- Specific items for PWDs, adapted to the type of disability.
The Gaza Acute Crisis Joint Response is planning to reach 136,049 people during this response.
[1] This a summary of main activities and does not include all detailed activities
Photo: Destruction in Gaza following escalations May 2021, Mohammad Libed-OCHA Photo Archive
