Humanitarian disaster
The residents of Gaza suffer from a severe shortage of water, food, medicine, and other life-saving resources. Two million people - including children, elderly, and the sick - are in life-threatening danger because of this. The infrastructure has been severely destroyed. Half of the hospitals are no longer functional, and schools and homes have been destroyed. Due to the enormous number of wounded and displaced people, aid workers are facing a serious shortage of everything.
What does Doctors of the World do?
Doctors of the World has been providing humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank since 1995. The escalation of the conflict has severely impacted our relief efforts. Despite the extreme circumstances, our teams in Gaza provide medical care, mental health services, and psychosocial support in refugee camps.
Ceasefire
This humanitarian disaster must stop. We call for an immediate ceasefire and safe, unhindered humanitarian access to Gaza. Medical care cannot be provided under falling bombs. We urge all parties involved in the conflict to respect and uphold international humanitarian law, which imposes rules in war and the protection of civilians. Humanitarian and medical personnel, as well as hospitals and schools, should never be targets. We condemn human rights violations of all civilians and advocate for a sustainable political solution to break this spiral of violence.
Emergency
Since the escalation of the conflict, our relief efforts have been severely affected. Despite the terrible situation, our team is still providing aid. We are also sending medical equipment to Gaza, where there is a desperate shortage. You can help with this!
Protect
UNRWA's Work UNRWA, the United Nations Relief Agency for Palestinian refugees in the Middle East, supports nearly 6 million Palestinian refugees in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan. The organization provides education, healthcare, and social services. In total, UNRWA has about 700 schools for 650,000 students and health clinics for more than 7 million patients annually. In Gaza, the aid organization is also responsible for food supply. Almost the entire population of Gaza depends on UNRWA for food, water, and sanitation. On October 28, 2024, the Israeli government passed a law prohibiting the activities of UNRWA – the UN organization that is crucial for the well-being of Palestinians. As Doctors of the World, we see daily how essential UNRWA is for medical and humanitarian aid in the Palestinian territories. Without them, the humanitarian disaster will only grow larger. This ban makes our work and that of other aid organizations virtually impossible. Doctors of the World has therefore called on the Netherlands and the international community to take urgent action to protect UNRWA's life-saving work.
In Action for Victims in the Middle East
Doctors of the World has been providing humanitarian and medical aid in the Middle East for almost forty years. In the Middle East, our actions are closely linked to the conflicts that shake the region and displace populations. Our aid workers are active in Yemen, Syria, Palestine, Iraq, and Lebanon. Supporting victims of armed conflicts in their access to healthcare and health services is crucial. We are present on the front lines, but also support refugees and displaced persons in adjacent regions.