Food distribution in Gaza continues under famine conditions
MCC continues to work with our partners on the ground to provide essential emergency relief to families in Gaza. As of the end of March, 550 families have received food kits that include rice, flour, oil and canned beans and vegetables through distributions like the one pictured on the left. (Al-Najd Developmental Forum photo/Bashar Al Arja)
In late March, the first of six planned MCC relief shipments crossed the border into Gaza. A second shipment is planned for early May. In the meantime, MCC and Al-Najd are planning another project to distribute locally purchased food. As more humanitarian relief crossed the border in the last few weeks, partners say they have noticed more food available in some parts of Gaza. But Palestinians across Gaza are still suffering from severe food scarcity and even famine. (Photo courtesy of Al-Najd Developmental Forum)
Relief workers face great risks operating in the Gaza Strip. MCC partners are carefully monitoring security and are working tirelessly to distribute emergency supplies. Al-Najd’s connection to community networks allows their staff to manage the risk of violence. In the photo on the left, MCC staff check the contents of food packages in Amman, Jordan, before they are shipped out for distribution by Al-Najd. (MCC photo/Marc Falconer)
All of the 2.2 million Palestinians in Gaza are now relying on emergency food, with many families experiencing famine, particularly in the north. Deliveries are staggered so that food packages can be distributed quickly and in smaller batches. This reduces the risk of violent encounters with Israel’s military forces targeting relief distributions. (Al-Najd Developmental Forum photo/Bashar Al Arja)
Despite the ongoing bombardment and decimation in Gaza, children still hold onto hope and are finding ways to help in the most difficult of circumstances. With the arrival of the MCC pilot food assistance shipment to Gaza, Qusai*, with no school to go to and little else to do — took it upon himself to work alongside the MCC partner Al-Najd Developmental Forum. When asked why he wanted to help this way, he said, "I’ve been with my father visiting people in tents; I want to help." *Full names have not been used for security purposes. (Al-Najd Developmental Forum photo/Bashar Al Arja)
Judy* has joined Qusai* (pictured above) working at Al-Najd while she's unable to attend school. The pair has gone so far as to give themselves titles: Judy is the associate director and Qusai is office manager. They have been working alongside the staff to organize and distribute the food boxes, as well as other tasks. When asked why they are helping, Judy said, “I’m happy to learn. I want to help people in this hard time until we go back home and build Gaza again. In the future, after I go to university, I will be able to run Al-Najd..." (Al-Najd Developmental Forum photo/Bashar Al Arja)
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