Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza

Populated areas and refugee camps in Gaza.

The three-week military conflict that took place in the Gaza Strip from December 27, 2008 to January 18, 2009 resulted in a dire need for humanitarian assistance in the area.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs acknowledged the significance of the humanitarian crisis which entailed "a massive destruction of livelihoods and a significant deterioration of infrastructure and basic services". 

Background

The current humanitarian crisis fueled by Israel's 2008-9 attack on Gaza ("Operation Cast Lead") is the latest manifestation of long-standing hostilities and violence between Palestine and Israel. A political framework for a negotiated solution is necessary to end this conflict and achieve a durable and just solution.

Writing about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been described as contending with two narratives that are incredibly divergent and ill at ease with one another. Unraveling these tangled narratives and achieving genuine peace will require patience and commitment from all who seek a negotiated solution to the conflict.

Read more about the crisis in Gaza and the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. 

Today, the entire population in Gaza remains deeply affected by the continuing crisis that is an affront to human dignity by any humanitarian standard. The Gaza economy is stagnant, unemployment is near 50 percent, and poverty is widespread. Eighty percent of people in Gaza depend on humanitarian aid for their survival. Thousands of families are living in substandard housing conditions.

In the year and a half since Operation Cast Lead killed over 1,000 civilians in Gaza and caused extensive damage to homes, infrastructure, public buildings, farms, and businesses, almost no repair to homes and even less rebuilding has occurred. The severe Israeli-imposed blockade, in place since June 2007, has not only caused tremendous material and psychological pressure, it has also completely hampered rebuilding and repair efforts. Although aid agencies have funding and supplies to address the damage from Operation Cast Lead, the Israeli government allows almost no humanitarian aid into Gaza to rebuild homes and public buildings. People are forced to live in bombed-out and badly damaged homes.

UUSC's Approach

UUSC opened the Gaza Humanitarian Relief Fund in January 2009. UUSC is currently working with two sister organizations, American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) and Architecture for Humanity, to develop innovative home-repair strategies in communities deeply affected by the recent war and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. This initiative builds upon UUSC's recent collaboration with AFSC to improve the quality of life for the families affected by the war. UUSC and AFSC worked together to engage Gaza youth in both the psychological well-being and physical reconstruction of their communities.

Through the Gaza Humanitarian Relief Fund, UUSC is currently working with partners in Gaza to:

• Complete a detailed, on-the-ground assessment of the damages sustained to homes in both rural and urban areas. This is the first assessment of its kind to be undertaken since Operation Cast Lead.
• Develop innovative, viable, safe, and affordable options for repairing homes, using locally available materials to avoid the aid blockade.
• Identify families most in need of help to repair their homes and restore dignity to their living conditions.
• Share information and practical repair designs with other organizations working in Gaza that have the resources to support this work on the ground.

Together, and with your continued generous support, we are acting in solidarity with communities in Gaza to make a positive difference in their lives.

Support the UUSC Gaza Humanitarian Relief Fund today.

Featured Stories About Our Response to the Crisis