Alhamdulillah, late last night, news reached us of the long-awaited ceasefire in Gaza. The people of Gaza are celebrating this moment, and we are joyous that they’re finally experiencing respite, hope and relief.

After 15+ months of relentless violence and devastation, this pause in hostilities brings hope, but it also serves as a stark reminder of the immense challenges ahead… and for humanitarian organisations like ours, it is a turning point—a chance to ramp up efforts to help the victims of oppression recover and begin rebuilding lives.

What the Ceasefire Means for Aid Efforts

The ceasefire has halted direct violence, offering some relief to the people of Gaza. This fragile truce creates an opportunity for humanitarian organisations to access areas that were previously too dangerous to reach. It also provides a window to deliver urgent aid to families who have lost everything and are struggling to survive amid the destruction.
From an aid perspective, the ceasefire represents:

• Improved Access: Border crossings may ease, allowing trucks carrying food, hygiene supplies, and medical aid to enter Gaza more effectively. The amount of aid trucks allowed to enter Gaza daily will be lifted to 600, significantly increasing the capacity to deliver life-saving supplies to those in need.
• Rebuilding Momentum: This pause provides the groundwork to shift focus from emergency relief to sustainable recovery, enabling communities to rebuild their lives with dignity.
• Global Solidarity: The ceasefire galvanises international attention and donor support, an restores hope that our collective efforts can make a difference in the ongoing crisis.

The Challenges of Sending Aid to Gaza

Despite the ceasefire, delivering aid to Gaza remains fraught with obstacles:

• Border Restrictions: Access to Gaza is still heavily regulated, and the clearance process for aid convoys can be lengthy and unpredictable.
• Infrastructure Damage: Widespread destruction has left roads, water systems, and hospitals inoperable, complicating the logistics of aid delivery. Urgent restoration efforts are needed for vital infrastructure to prevent the crisis from worsening.
• Fragile Security: The ceasefire is tenuous, and the risk of renewed violence looms, potentially disrupting aid efforts.
• Resource Scarcity: The scale of destruction far exceeds available resources, making it critical to prioritise aid distribution to the most vulnerable.

These challenges underscore the urgency and complexity of the work that lies ahead, but they also strengthen our resolve to urgently deliver life-saving assistance.

Our Recent Work

Throughout this crisis, we’ve worked tirelessly to support the people of Gaza. As of this week, we can report on the following:

• Shelter for the Displaced: We’ve already delivered 1,200 tents across the border and are distributing them to the families who need them most, providing emergency shelter from the harsh winter weather.
• Delivered 1,200 tents to provide emergency shelter for displaced families.
• Distributed Hot Meals, Fresh bread and truckloads of water across North, Middle and South Gaza
• Sponsored free medical examinations, medicine and winter clothing  for children
• Provided reusable surgical gowns for Al Aqsa Hospital, and hot meals for hospital staff

These efforts are a testament to the unwavering support of our donors, whose generosity enables us to stand alongside the people of Gaza in their time of need. We are honoured to have been entrusted with your donations.

Our Plans for the Next Phase

As we move into the next phase of our response, sources on the ground, and experience, tell us that there will be a huge influx of food aid that should suffice the need of Gazans in the short term. We will continue to provide food aid but also plan to shift our focus from immediate relief to sustainable recovery.  These plans are currently in design:

• Immediate Aid: We will be sending 3 trucks of food packs and 7 trucks of hygiene packs immediately, insha Allah, with a further 3 trucks to follow soon after..
• Rebuilding Essential Infrastructure: Schools, healthcare centres, and community services that have been destroyed need urgent restoration to provide a foundation for recovery.
• Livelihood Support: Initiatives to rebuild livelihoods, such as skills training and income-generating programs, will empower families to regain independence and stability.
• Child and Orphan Care: We are working closely with orphanages to organise support for thousands of children who have lost their families, ensuring they receive care, education, and hope for the future.
• Comprehensive Aid Distribution: Food aid, hygiene packs, and medical supplies will continue to be distributed, addressing their ongoing basic needs as families recover.

How You Can Help

The journey ahead will be long and challenging, but it is also one filled with hope. Your support is vital in ensuring we can continue to deliver aid and rebuild communities in Gaza.
Together, we can transform this moment of ceasefire into a new beginning for the people of Gaza. Every donation, every prayer, and every act of solidarity makes a difference.