[ [link removed] ]Mercy Corps

Dear friend,

This email is part of our ongoing series to keep you informed about Mercy
Corps’ real-time emergency response around the world. Below is an update
on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Situation in Gaza

The humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza grows more dire by the day. More than
2.3 million people are cut off from water, electricity, fuel, and food.
Over 1.5 million people are displaced and trying to find shelter.

Water and sanitation services have collapsed. All but one hospital in Gaza
City and northern Gaza are non-operational due to lack of power, medical
equipment, and oxygen, and bombardments and nearby fighting.

The ongoing violence, along with power and internet outages, has made it
challenging to keep in daily contact with Mercy Corps team members in
Gaza. Here are a few of the reports they have been able to share:


 
"My wife and I welcomed a daughter into the world one day before the
conflict started. We were unable to get her the necessary vaccinations
  or take her for medical checks. Our home has been bombed and we are  
struggling each day to find food and water to keep her healthy. What
should have been one of the happiest times of our lives is now filled
with terror."
 


 
"The way we are living now is like we have regressed five decades or
  more. We dedicate the majority of our time to securing food or water.  
We resort to cooking over open flames due to the scarcity of fuel, and
we rely on donkey-drawn carts for transportation."
 


 
"We have spent three days without any bread. We don’t have a way to
make fire so we are buying wheat and giving it to someone else to make
bread for us. Everything is so scarce that prices have become so high.
  Five pieces of bread cost $30. For water, we are buying small bottles  
that are $8 a pack. We have started to receive nutrient bars from the
aid trucks. The only things available in the supermarket are cookies,
sesame oil, and detergents."
 


As this crisis continues, we fear for our team and for the more than two
million civilians who are trapped in Gaza with nowhere safe to go.

How we’re responding

Without urgent action to address the horrific violence and catastrophic
humanitarian crisis, we fear the worst is yet to come. We are calling for
a sustained ceasefire, an end to the siege, and the massive scale-up of
humanitarian assistance to prevent continued civilian death and
destruction in Gaza.

Mercy Corps Chief Executive Officer, Tjada D’Oyen McKenna, released the
following statement:

"Only a sustained ceasefire, agreed to by all parties, will meaningfully
mitigate the tragic humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and allow organizations
like Mercy Corps to deliver lifesaving assistance desperately needed by
2.3 million people who continue to be trapped under heavy bombardment, cut
off from food, water and medicine."

Ongoing bombardments and fighting have prevented humanitarian
organizations from meaningfully providing aid. There is virtually no
operating space for humanitarian organizations in Gaza.

Once Mercy Corps has safety guarantees and access needed to ramp up our
response, we will focus on the provision of essential items such as clean
water, food, hygiene supplies, and shelter materials. We’re working to
establish supply lines, including in Egypt.

Mercy
Corps is doing all we can to help people in Gaza, Afghanistan, Sudan, and
40+ countries rebuild their lives and livelihoods in the midst of crisis.

[ [link removed] ]As global humanitarian need soars to a historic high, we ask you to
consider making a gift today for people caught in crises in 40+ countries
worldwide.



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Thank you again for being part of our global community as our teams and
partners respond to this extraordinary moment. We will continue to send
you updates as our response progresses.

Sincerely,

The Mercy Corps team

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P.O. Box 37800, Boone, IA 50037-4800

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