Dear friend,
The past few weeks have seen some of the deadliest fighting in Gaza since the conflict began three months ago. Now, as talks of a truce make little progress, hunger is becoming an even greater threat: Recent reports show up to 500,000 families could face famine-like conditions by February.
Mercy Corps teams and partners are poised to ramp up our response as soon as humanitarian access at scale is possible, and all of us continue to support our colleagues who are living through this disaster. Please read on for firsthand updates from our teammates in Gaza — and consider making a gift to help power our urgent humanitarian response across the globe.
Hunger crisis intensifies
People line up outside a bakery in Rafah, Gaza. One line is for purchasing food packages, the other is for people fixing their cooking pots to use coal to make bread.
More than 23,000 people have reportedly been killed in Gaza since the violence began a few months ago. Now the humanitarian crisis is on the verge of a horrifying new phase: A recent UN report indicated that deaths from starvation may soon surpass casualties from airstrikes.
Every household in Gaza is expected to fail to meet their food needs in the coming weeks, according to the report — the highest percentage of acute food security ever classified by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) for a given area or country. Up to 1 in 4 households are facing starvation and famine — the most extreme, catastrophic, measure of food insecurity.
The siege tactics applied to Gaza — cutting off food, water, and access to aid — are illegal under international law and must be rescinded immediately. Unless a ceasefire is implemented and upheld with safety guarantees for humanitarian staff and goods, there is no realistic way to get enough aid to the millions of people who desperately need it.
Life under siege: Reports from our team
"This is how we light the fire when there is no firewood." Donia, a Mercy Corps team member in Gaza, shared a glimpse at life under siege with little food, water, or fuel.
Donia, a Mercy Corps team member in Gaza, shared what life is like for her family now that the temporary truce has ended, fighting has intensified, and winter has set in:
 |
"With the days of the ceasefire/truce, there was a glimmer of hope that the war might end. During that period, we hoped to seize the opportunity to go out and find necessities for our children, but sadly, there was nothing in the markets to buy and alleviate our children’s hunger.
"As winter approached, we faced the harsh reality of not having blankets to keep our children warm. Each night, I hold them close, praying for an end to this war and that we are spared from any tragedy. We never anticipated that the war would last this long."
|
|
Ruba, a team member staying at a Mercy Corps shelter in Rafah, spoke frankly about confronting "the specter of death numerous times each day" as she and her family face impossible decisions about where to go to remain safe.
|
"The decision to head to the shelter is challenging, given the hazardous road conditions and the prospect of facing even greater difficulties. How can we carry a mattress, blankets, and belongings without transportation? We resort to riding animals, cooking over an open fire, and praying to find basic necessities like a bag of flour in the market.
"Being a mother in these circumstances is exceptionally challenging. I am a mother of four children... The amount of fear and anxiety in their eyes with every bombing breaks me. While I’ve managed to store some milk and diapers for my child, the growing unease arises as supplies run low, and the war shows no signs of ending. My thoughts also extend to those who couldn't afford to stockpile essentials and are displaced in the cold with inadequate shelter, clothing, and food."
|
|
"Securing bread has become increasingly challenging," according to Ghassan, a Mercy Corps team member. "Today, we celebrated a small victory by baking our own bread."
Ghassan, a Mercy Corps team member in Rafah, shared with us a hopeful moment of resilience and resourcefulness despite the hardships he and his family are facing:
|
"My brother used to stand in long lines starting at 4:00 A.M. daily in an attempt to get bread, but with no success. So we’ve decided to make bread at home. Luckily, we had a small amount of yeast, managed to acquire some flour, and today, we celebrated a small victory by baking our own bread. Since we have no fuel, we bake the bread using a traditional method. The markets have run out of salt, yeast, and even flour. While we fed ourselves today, we remain uncertain about what tomorrow holds for us."
|
|
As truce talks continue, Mercy Corps is advocating strongly for a ceasefire, end to siege tactics, and humanitarian access at the scale required to meet the needs of millions of people. We’re also working hard to establish supply lines for essential, lifesaving items such as clean water, food, hygiene supplies, and shelter materials.
You can help power our work in Gaza, Afghanistan, Sudan, and 40+ countries around the world.
Make a gift today to send urgent support for families living through unimaginable crises in 2024.
Thanks for your support — we’ll provide more updates from Gaza in the weeks ahead.
Sincerely,
The Mercy Corps team
|
