An Insight from Muslim Charity’s Emergency Response Team

Since Tuesday 8th July 2014 the civilian population of Gaza have been trapped in an overcrowded war zone with no form of exit. Hundreds of lives have been lost and thousands injured including women and children. Muslim Charity and its partners started its relief efforts and began distributing life-saving food, water and medical assistance. As a result of the intensive fundraising and media campaign, Muslim Charity finds it necessary to inform our supporters and donors how the donations being received are being utilised in Gaza. For the convenience of our supporters and for their peace of mind, Muslim Charity’s Emergency Response Team have put together the following questions and answers:

Question: What and how Muslim Charity is undertaking relief work in Palestine in the war situation?

Muslim Charity along with its partners is working in Gaza and have helped thousands of people through family support, orphans sponsorships and provision of safe water since many years. Since Tuesday 8th July 2014, Muslim Charity’s Emergency Response Team (ERT) along with our partners have delivered essential lifesaving food, non-food, water and medical assistance in areas such as Al Sheja’ia, Al Tufah, Al Daraj, Sha’af and Jabalya along with Khan Yunis in the Gaza strip.

The logistics and procurement is arranged in coordination with other humanitarian agencies and private vendors are utilised to procure the commodities. The logistics’ teams pack and arrange the food and non-food items for distribution. Special care is being taken to ensure the safety of staff during the distribution.

Although the bombardment and airstrikes make it extremely difficult for the teams on the ground to move around and provide humanitarian assistance but due to the presence of a well-informed system for the relief agencies it is still possible to undertake delivery. In this case the local knowledge and coordination with other organisations becomes vital.

Question: There are reports of insufficient food and non-food item supplies, how is Muslim Charity ensuring the supplies for distribution?

Muslim Charity and its partners order the commodities from private vendors but at the same time we remain in touch with other international humanitarian organisations to utilise ceasefire opportunities for bringing in the supplies through border crossings. Most of the time private companies are contracted for procurement and transportation.

Question: What is most needed in Gaza?

Medical supplies, food, fuel and water are the pressing needs in Gaza. Food and medical supplies for hospitals are the most pressing need at this moment. These can be addressed most easily, as it is possible to gain access to hospitals and drug dispensaries. The wider displaced population is also in need of food and medical supplies, but because of insecurity we have a very limited access at this point of time.

Because of the large numbers of homes being destroyed, there are hundreds of displaced people crowding into other homes, schools and Masjids. There is generally a problem of overcrowding which existed before the bombardment, but now it has been exacerbated, as there is no access to safe locations.