As a result of the attack launched by Hamas on Israel, a humanitarian crisis in the Middle East is rapidly unfolding. To meet the growing needs of the children, adults, and families across Israel and Gaza, United Way Worldwide is sharing information on ways to support those impacted.
In Israel, the United Way Network has a presence through an affiliate called Matan. Matan, a trusted leader for its efforts to build resilient communities, is on the ground in Israel responding to community needs.
United Way does not have a presence in Gaza but there are many nonprofit organizations working in the region with the expertise and capabilities to provide humanitarian aid:
- Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF): Teams are working in Gaza and the West Bank, as we have for 20 years, providing medical care and supporting a health system that urgently lacks both medical personnel and supplies. Doctors Without Borders is not currently supporting efforts in Israel.
- International Committee of the Red Cross: The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has been present in Israel and the occupied territories since 1967. As a neutral, independent, humanitarian organization, the ICRC visits detainees in Israeli and Palestinian places of detention. We also help improve access to essential services like water and electricity in Gaza and support livelihood projects throughout the occupied territories.
- Save the Children: Save the Children has been providing essential services and support to Palestinian children impacted by the ongoing conflict since 1953. The organization is currently working with the United Nations in the hopes of negotiating humanitarian corridors to allow for the delivery of aid.
- International Rescue Committee: The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. IRC is assessing needs on the ground and the organization’s capacity to ensure critical, life-saving humanitarian relief reaches affected civilian populations.
- World Food Programme: The World Food Programme (WFP) is distributing fresh bread and canned food to around 73,000 people in shelters and is planning to scale up food and cash assistance to almost one million Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank to ensure their immediate food needs are met.