By Lauren Rutledge | Senior Manager
Over the past year since Oct. 7, 2023, more than 41,000 people have been reported killed and nearly 97,000 injured in Gaza. In Israel, 1,200 people were reported killed and more than 5,000 injured.
An estimated 1.9 million people are displaced in Gaza—about 90 percent of the population. Those displaced are living in overcrowded, makeshift shelters without access to basic necessities like clean water and adequate nutrition, heightening health concerns.
“The situation is absolutely dire—tens of thousands of families need food, clean water and shelter—and hospitals are running out of fuel. Our support will help health facilities continue operating and providing essential health services to children and adults most impacted by this crisis.” – Deputy Senior Vice President of Emergency Programs Provash Budden
There are already more than 1.7 million reported cases of infectious diseases, including acute respiratory infections, diarrhea, skin infections and meningitis, according to the World Health Organization. In July, polio was detected in wastewater and a case of polio was confirmed, the first in Gaza in 25 years. Nearly 560,000 children under the age of 10 were vaccinated against polio during the first round of an emergency vaccination campaign currently underway in Gaza. Additional vaccination efforts continue.
Over the past year, Americares has worked to address the urgent health needs of children and adults affected by the crisis.
We are working with partner organizations with staff on the ground in Gaza to increase access to medicine, medical supplies and mental health support for frontline health care providers and survivors.
• In Gaza, we are providing medicine and medical supplies for our partner organizations Anera, Human Appeal and MedGlobal. Since the hostilities escalated in October 2023, Americares has delivered over 24 tons of essential medicine and medical supplies to Gaza, including enough medicine to fill nearly 220,000 prescriptions. Additional shipments are on the way, including 9 tons of medicines and medical supplies currently in Jordan.
• Americares is supporting six partner organizations providing mental health and psychosocial support services in Gaza. Combined, these Americares-supported efforts will reach more than 8,000 people experiencing the trauma of war and displacement
• Americares has awarded $550,000 in funding for medical teams providing essential health care services in Gaza, which has no fully functioning hospitals.
• We are also supporting health services in Egypt and Lebanon, including medical care and mental health support for children evacuated to Egypt.
In Israel, Americares worked with multiple organizations after the Oct. 7, 2023, attack to meet physical and mental health needs.
Americares funded medical equipment to support United Hatzalah volunteer emergency medical technicians, paramedics and physicians assisting people injured or displaced by the war and through HIAS, supported a mental health hotline and the distribution of household supplies and baby care items. Americares also provided funding to IsraAID, a non-governmental organization that responds to emergencies and humanitarian crises, to provide mental health support and child-friendly spaces for populations displaced within Israel due to the hostilities.
When 4-year-old Dawud*’s leg was badly broken by missile strike in Gaza, he received emergency surgery. But for a full recovery, the little boy needed medical care not available in Gaza, where many hospitals have been damaged or destroyed. With the help of an Americares-funded local partner, Dawud, his mother Reem and other family members were evacuated to Egypt. There, Dawud received the medical treatment he needed, along with physical therapy and mental health support. “They continue to help us with every need,” says Reem. “People need support after this war – moral, psychological, financial support. It’s all necessary.”
*name changed for privacy
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