Photo: Mohammed Ajjour via Instagram.com/unicef
The past 10 days have been among the darkest in the Middle East’s recent history, with innocent civilians in Palestine and Israel losing their lives to what is turning out to be a major humanitarian disaster. Here are some organizations supporting on ground victims.
Emirates Red Crescent
Emirates Red Crescent has opened 26 donation centers across the UAE to collect aid for families affected in the Gaza area. Open daily from 8am to 6pm, the centre accepts everything from food and medical supplies to hygiene products, blankets, nappies and milk powder. Those who cannot be physically present can also donate online.
Doctors Without Borders
International organization Doctors Without Borders comprises of workers from across 70 different countries, and focuses on helping those in need with medical care regardless of race, religion, or politics. DWB is currently working on collecting and preparing medical and humanitarian supplies which will be sent to Gaza when access is allowed.
Alliance for Middle East Peace
“We see the child, not the nationality.” Run by a team of both, Palestinians and Israelis, Alliance for Middle East Peace’s priority is to help affected families on either side of the ongoing conflict, and is currently gathering emergency funds for NGOs to send help to suffering victims.
UNICEF
Currently, UNICEF and its partners are on ground in Gaza, delivering humanitarian support to family and children. UNICEF is providing safe drinking water to victims, along with medical supplies for hospitals, medicines for at least 1,600 people for one month, and mental health and psychosocial support.
Middle East Children’s Alliance
A children’s rights nonprofit, Middle East Children’s Alliance and its partners are sending emergency assistance to families who have had to flee their homes to seek shelter with relatives. It is also dedicating efforts towards sending medical supplies to hospitals and clinics.
Save the Children
Currently, approximately 2.45 million people need humanitarian assistance, 1.2 million of whom are children. Save the Children is focusing its tools towards sending vital supplies like food to minors in the West Bank and Gaza when channels open. The organization has also set up child-friendly spaces for impacted children.
International Committee of the Red Cross
Partnering with Red Cross and Red Crescent throughout the globe, it is dedicating resources to help victims access essentials like water and electricity.
Palestine Children’s Relief Fund
Among the largest humanitarian organizations in Palestine, PCRF is focusing on delivering crucial and life-saving medical relief and humanitarian aid — including food and clean water — to victims in Gaza, of which more than 50% are children.
