[ [link removed] ]Mercy Corps

Dear friend,

The crisis in Gaza has reached a tragic milestone: More than 40,000
Palestinians have been killed, and the toll grows with each passing day.

These aren’t just numbers — they are cherished sons, daughters, mothers,
fathers, grandparents, and friends. They are lives and futures that have
been extinguished far too soon. The unimaginable scale of this tragedy
demands urgent action.

Gaza continues to be the most dangerous place in the world to be a child
or a humanitarian worker. Recent news about deadly airstrikes on aid
convoys and the potential outbreak of polio have underscored the toll this
war is taking on civilians each day.

At Mercy Corps, we are doing everything possible to reach people in need.
Over the past week, we were able to work with a local partner to
distribute more than 900 food parcels and 1,000 hygiene kits in North
Gaza. This marked the first time we were able to reach North Gaza with
these urgently needed items — but there continue to be major obstacles
preventing the delivery of aid, including delays, blocked access, and
dangerous conditions on the ground.


[ [link removed] ][IMG]
A shop in Rafah is completely empty of food and other supplies as access
to most of Gaza is nearly completely cut off. Photo © Shadow Pro for Mercy
Corps


The lack of access to humanitarian aid is compounding the violence and
acute hunger that are affecting more than 2 million Palestinians. Without
clean water, hygiene supplies, or medication, disease continues to spread
throughout Gaza.

Polio was recently detected in wastewater samples in Gaza, suggesting the
possibility of an outbreak. This is particularly dangerous for the
estimated 50,000 babies who have been born since the beginning of this
war.

One Mercy Corps staff member described rapidly deteriorating health and
living conditions:


 
"Sewage and wastewater are everywhere, and diseases are spreading in
an alarming manner. The water is not clean, and despite knowing this,
  we have no choice but to drink it. Recently, a friend reported seeing  
people in the camps washing their belongings with wastewater, a
situation that is both distressing and dangerous."
 


An effort is currently underway to quickly vaccinate thousands of children
in Gaza, and Israel has agreed to pause fighting to allow for vaccinations
to take place. But the success of this effort rests on real and reliable
guarantees of safety.

Mercy Corps teams and partners continue to work to deliver critical aid
for families in Gaza. And we will continue to be part of the global
community’s urgent calls for a ceasefire, safe access for humanitarian
aid, and the safe return of all hostages.

We will provide further updates from our team members about conditions on
the ground in Gaza and the status of our emergency response.

[ [link removed] ]Until then, please contribute any amount you
can afford to help our team members and partners stay ready to deliver
critical aid in Gaza and in crisis zones across the globe where violence,
natural disasters, and climate change are pushing families to the brink of
survival.


[ [link removed] ]Donate now [ [link removed] ]▸


Thanks as always for your continued support.

Sincerely,

The Mercy Corps team

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