AFSC - Palestine
The Situation in Gaza
Woman with infant
receiving aid in Gaza.
Currently, Gaza is isolated from the world. Israel has closed the Gaza borders and restricted the inflow of essential items such as food, electricity, and medical supplies.
Violence has escalated in the form of air attacks, assassinations, and rocket fire, killing many Palestinians and Israelis.
Committed to the well-being of all, the American Friends Service Committee grieves for the people trapped in the latest round of violence in Gaza. A particular sadness for us was learning that among those recently killed was a 14 year-old boy—from the Jabaliya refugee camp in Gaza—who had been part of our youth program. As we have asked many times throughout the history of our involvement in Israel and Palestine: Why did this happen? What can be done? And where is the hope and light?
We express profound appreciation for the AFSC staff in Gaza who continue their work with AFSC’s youth programs and humanitarian relief despite extremely difficult circumstances. We also commend the staff in Ramallah and Jerusalem whose work builds support for a peaceful resolution to conflicts.
Read our response to the recent violence and our call for a sustainable peace >
AFSC’s Work to Address the Humanitarian Crisis
Gazan man receives a food aid
package from AFSC.
Quaker Palestine Youth Program (QPYP), the AFSC’s ongoing program in Palestine, launched a community assessment to consult with local and international NGOs, as well as Youth Program partners, to analyze the humanitarian situation in Gaza. The QPYP assessed the immediate needs, learned about ongoing programs related to relief assistance, and listened to advice on what factors to consider as AFSC develops and implements an emergency response program.
AFSC provided food supplies to the most disadvantaged people. The food packages included 14 basic necessities such as flour, sugar, rice, beans, cooking oil, cheese, tea bags, etc., and were distributed to 410 families. Home visits to the families helped ensure a better understanding of their living conditions and needs.
The beneficiaries were selected based on the following criteria:
- Five or more people in each family/large number of children
- The family has no or very low income
- Households headed by women
- Families with members who are disabled or have long-term health care needs
- Families living in refugee camps, poor neighborhoods, and remote and areas that have been targeted by the Israeli attacks
In February 2008, a humanitarian affairs officer was hired in Gaza to monitor and report on humanitarian conditions, make recommendations to AFSC, and coordinate future AFSC humanitarian assistance efforts there.
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