How and where DEC charities are responding in the Middle East

Where are donations being spent? 

Gaza

With a ceasefire in place in Gaza, DEC member charities and their local partners are working to rapidly expand their humanitarian response.

They are doing as much as they can to support some of the hundreds of thousands of people now returning to northern Gaza, with many more expected to move in the coming weeks from displacement camps and shelters in the south. 

As people begin returning to their communities and looking towards and uncertain future, they are providing vital aid to families on the move. Many have lost everything, with ninety percent of homes destroyed or damaged, as well a huge amount of essential infrastructure.

DEC charities have already been providing lifesaving aid in Gaza over the past months, but increased aid access since the ceasefire means they are now working to adapt and expand their programmes to reach more people with food, shelter, medical care and basic supplies. The needs are huge.

More than 2 million people in Gaza need humanitarian aid. Harsh winter weather in has further worsened the conditions in camps, with floods inundating tents, and cold temperatures causing sickness amid a dire shortage of medical care. Over ninety percent of the population have been internally displaced, most now several times, and more than 47,000 people have been killed.

Hundreds of trucks containing humanitarian aid are now entering Gaza every day, and some bakeries, hospitals and other essential facilities that were forced to close during the conflict are expected to reopen in the coming weeks. Member charities have also reported that local market prices are already beginning to fall, meaning basic supplies are becoming more affordable, and people have access to a wider range of goods. DEC member charities and their local partners are also able to procure goods more affordably within Gaza, such as fresh food and essential supplies for hygiene kits. 

Examples of how DEC charities are supporting people in Gaza:

• ActionAid's local partner in Gaza has been providing people with fresh vegetables, . Fresh produce has previously been in limited supply in Gaza and 1.8 million people are facing food shortages.
• Several DEC charities and their local partners are working to support people living in informal shelter sites with essential services including mobile health clinics, water desalination facilities and specialist disability support.
• Oxfam and their local partners are providing families in the Deir al Balah and Khan Younis areas of Gaza with much-needed cash assistance. They will also be providing psychosocial support for women dealing with ongoing trauma.  
• The British Red Cross and their local partners are providing vital medical care to some of the many sick and injured, supporting hospitals and clinics and providing essential medicines.
• Concern Worldwide and their local partners have been distributing clean water every two days in Gaza, to displaced people living in camps. They are also distributing hygiene supplies, and building sanitation facilities in camps.  

Lebanon

Following the ceasefire at the end of last year, people in Lebanon have been moving back to their communities. DEC charities are constantly monitoring the situation on the ground to ensure they are in the right areas to be able to support those returning home.

The level of need in Lebanon remains extremely high. People require  food, healthcare, and shelter as many houses and homes have been destroyed. Returning families need essential support such as bedding, warm clothing, and heating assistance, as many are now living outside of collective shelters.

Examples of how DEC charities are supporting people in Lebanon:

• World Vision and their local partners are running activities in child friendly spaces, so displaced children have a suitable place to learn, play and receive trauma support.
• Concern Worldwide are providing ready to eat meals and the delivery of hygiene kits in affected neighbourhoods of Beirut where people’s homes have been destroyed.
• Plan International are providing food, and winter kits including blankets and mattresses, and reaching families with essential hygiene and baby kits.

DEC member charities and their local partners are working to ensure they are targeting those most affected with urgent and lifesaving aid, while also remaining flexible to the evolving situation as people start to rebuild their lives.

Looking ahead, DEC charities will provide livelihood support and general recovery for communities in areas significantly impacted by the conflict.

Are any funds from this appeal being spent in Israel? 

The DEC is very concerned about the situation in Israel, and the loss of life and suffering that so many there have faced for the past 15 months. For the hostages and their families, the ceasefire offers hope of reunion, after months of uncertainty and grief. But many still desperately await news of their loved ones, thousands have been displaced, and people are dealing with trauma after months of conflict.

DEC appeal responses always focus on those areas where significant humanitarian needs are not being met. For this reason,  funds from the DEC Middle East Humanitarian Appeal are currently supporting people in Gaza, Lebanon, the West Bank and Syria, where millions of people urgently need food, water, shelter and medical care.

Find out more.