Dear friend,
The situations in Gaza and Sudan are seeing new levels of crisis as millions of civilians are experiencing severe hunger and displacement from the conflicts.
In Gaza, sweltering summer weather and new evacuation orders are worsening conditions for millions of people living in tents and overcrowded shelters. In Sudan, escalating violence between armed groups and a lack of international support has forced millions of people to flee their hometowns and edge closer to famine.
Mercy Corps is working relentlessly to bring critical aid to families experiencing humanitarian catastrophes in places like Gaza and Sudan. Please read on for the latest on-the-ground reports from our team members — and if you’re ready to build on your commitment to our work to support families in Gaza, Sudan, and 40+ countries, consider making a gift to Mercy Corps as we respond to the immediate needs of those severely impacted.
Situation in Gaza
According to the latest reports, 96 percent of the population is facing acute food insecurity and nearly half a million people are on the brink of famine. Extreme heat waves add another layer of adversity as families continue to deal with ongoing hunger.
Below, our Mercy Corps team members in Gaza describe how life has become even more difficult for Palestinians since the Rafah offensive.
 |
|
|
|
"With the displacement of people from Rafah to central areas of the Strip, Al-Nuseirat has become very crowded...People set up their tents wherever they find space, even if it's on the edges of the streets. Imagine a small child lying down to sleep in a tent on the edge of the street. Even sleeping is dangerous."
|
| |
|
ZAID, AL-NUSEIRAT, GAZA
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
"The overcrowding has become unbearable, to the extent that in our shelter, where two families per floor used to be accommodated, we now have six families. This has had a profound impact on us; for instance, the bathroom that previously served two families now serves six [families]. Today, without any exaggeration, I waited for two hours for my turn to use the bathroom."
|
| |
|
LENA, AL-NUSEIRAT, GAZA
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
"The lack of proper sanitation facilities and polluted water and air increase the risk of diseases like hepatitis A and B. The streets are littered with piles of garbage reminiscent of the pyramids of Giza."
|
| |
|
LOJAIN, GAZA CITY, GAZA
|
| |
How we’re responding
Mercy Corps is working to distribute essential items to meet the urgent need in Gaza. Despite the restrictions and limited access, our teams on the ground work tirelessly to ensure that critical relief is reaching families in desperate need. Since October of last year, Mercy Corps has:
 |
|
Ushered trucks of supplies into Gaza to distribute food, hygiene, and household shelter kits in Rafah, Deir al Balah, and Khan Younis. These items include bath towels, hand soap, shampoo, toothbrushes, toothpaste, diapers, hand sanitizers, water containers, and more. |
| |
| |
|
Provided cash assistance to people, giving them the dignity of choice to purchase what they need most, even as prices and availability of food, medicine, and other basic supplies fluctuate significantly depending on border access. |
| |
| |
|
Delivered psychosocial support to help participants navigate the challenges of conflict and displacement. |
With no place safe to go, the future of families in Gaza is uncertain. Mercy Corps will continue to do everything we can to support families caught in this conflict and advocate for a sustained ceasefire.
Mothers waiting for food aid at an internal displacement camp that is hosting over 55,000 people in Sudan.
Situation in Sudan
In Sudan, families are experiencing increased violence, increased hunger, and limited access to humanitarian aid. Right now, over half the population (more than 26 million people) is food insecure. As the war continues, armed forces have turned fields and farmlands into war zones, furthering food insecurity in the country.
The war has also upended the lives of millions of people in Sudan. More than 9.1 million people have been displaced since the conflict began in April 2023. Despite the atrocities in Sudan, the humanitarian response has been nowhere near enough to meet the needs of families.
How we’re responding
Mercy Corps teams are working tirelessly to respond to the desperate needs of families in Sudan. To date, we have delivered cash aid to internally displaced people to help more than 12,000 families meet their daily needs, enabling them to buy essentials like food, water, medicine, and hygiene supplies.
Following the IPC’s acute food security report on Sudan, Mercy Corps CEO Tjada D’Oyen McKenna highlighted the urgency of the situation and the critical need for the global community to respond.
"Sudan has become one of the world's largest and most ignored man-made tragedies. More than 10 million people have been forced from their homes — more than any other conflict today — as hunger levels soar dramatically...World leaders continue to go through the motions, expressing concern over Sudan's crisis, yet they've failed to rise to the occasion. Each day of diplomatic inaction results in an irreparable loss of human lives. If we don't act now, the twin threats of violence and hunger will snowball, causing mass deaths and devastating communities for years to come."
Humanitarian crises are increasing around the world, impacting millions and millions of people. As Mercy Corps CEO calls out to the international community to respond to these crises, we must all do our part to support families facing imaginable challenges in the 40+ countries where we work.
Will you consider making your first gift to Mercy Corps to power our work in face of increasing humanitarian crises?
Thank you for your continued commitment to ensuring a more just and equitable world. We will continue to keep you updated on the situations in Gaza and Sudan.
Sincerely,
The Mercy Corps team
|
