The region of Gaza has dominated the news for some time with all the hardship that people in this area have been forced to endure. In fact, the Gaza emergency has now been going on for over 300 days, meaning individuals have been subjected to unimaginable suffering for almost an entire year. The conflict doesn’t appear to be ending any time soon, meaning Gaza is likely to remain at the centre of violence, poverty, and political instability. It’s for this reason that we still desperately need donations to our Gaza crisis appeal, as we must do all we can to protect those who need it most.
Over the last 300 days, the humanitarian situation in Gaza has only gotten worse. Gaza has a population of over two million people, yet every one of these individuals is being crammed into an area of 365 square kilometres. Naturally, this makes for a very uncomfortable living environment, and this is without even considering the awful geopolitical climate. Every day, the people of Gaza struggle to access basic resources, and the economic collapse is only making this more difficult.
The emergency has also resulted in an alarming escalation of violence, destruction, and displacement. Airstrikes, rocket attacks, and ground clashes have become an almost daily occurrence, and this has only contributed to the mounting civilian casualties, in which children and older adults are among the worst affected. This has led to the hospitals becoming overcrowded, meaning an already struggling healthcare system is finding it hard to care for those who need it.
The last 300 days have seen tens of thousands lose their homes and become displaced. Food, clean water, electricity, and healthcare have become increasingly scarce. Tragically, children who should be attending school are spending their days digging through debris in an attempt to recover the remains of their former lives.
Even before the emergency took hold, Gaza’s health infrastructure was in crisis. With the current situation, though, it has been pushed to the brink of collapse. Medical facilities have been bombed, ambulances destroyed, and healthcare workers have risked their lives to tend to the wounded. The hospitals that have remained open are overwhelmed, dealing with thousands of injured civilians with an absence of essential medicines and equipment.
Gaza is also suffering from a lack of clean water, as the damaged infrastructure and blockade preventing the import of necessary repair materials have contaminated the sources. As a result, cholera and other waterborne diseases are an ever-present threat, especially for vulnerable populations like children and older adults.
Schools across the Gaza region have been reduced to rubble, and those that are still standing are widely being used as shelters for displaced families. So, not only do children not have a space to learn, but the psychological trauma of witnessing violence, the loss of loved ones, and the destruction of homes has severely affected their ability to learn.
An entire generation of Gazan children have gone almost a year without education, meaning many no longer see schooling as a part of their future and feel hopeless about the prospects of a normal life. Even if some children are able to attend school, the environment is far from healthy; instead, the sounds of war continue in the background as they attempt to learn.
Not only is this detrimental to the children themselves, but it’s also damaging to Gaza’s future stability and development. In a generation that’s forced to go without education in a violent and deprived environment, the cycle of poverty and conflict is almost certain to continue.
At Muslim Aid, we’re on the ground in Gaza to provide humanitarian aid to those who need it most. Our workers risk getting caught in the crossfire, putting their own lives in danger to help some of the most vulnerable members of society. We’re doing all we can to make an impact, but we need your help to address the enormous suffering that has accumulated over the last 300 days.
The people of Gaza have no choice but to rely on the international community to bring them out of this conflict. It’s for this reason that we’re so dedicated to raising funds for the area and physically helping out the community where we can. That said, our work isn’t possible without your donations, which is why it’s so important that you give what you can.
The challenges in Gaza have been unimaginable; however, the region has continued to demonstrate extraordinary resilience. We’ve seen communities come together to support one another, even in the darkest of times. What’s more, international solidarity has also offered hope, and our appeal works so that you can show your support from afar. So, please give generously to help us finally bring the Gaza emergency to a close.
We are a faith-based British international charity that provides help to people who are victims of natural disasters or conflict or suffering from poverty, hunger, disease, homelessness, injustice, deprivation or lack of skills and economic opportunities.
© Copyright 2024. Muslim AidMuslim Aid - Help Muslims Around the World in Need . All Rights Reserved.
Charity CIO No. 1176462
Serving humanity since 1985.
