Gaza: One year on
A nation struggles to stand again
Muslim Hands staff providing aid for Gaza
The camera crews have left, the round-the-clock-coverage has stopped and the attack is only spoken of in retrospect. It is difficult to imagine that it was a whole year ago that images of devastation and loss flooded into our television screens. From land, air and sea Gaza was under a relentless assault of bombing leaving almost 1500 dead, tens of thousands injured and countless of Gazans without shelter, running water and basic food provisions.
After three surreal weeks, the bombs fell silent and the people of Gaza were given respite to begin picking up the pieces of their lives. The dead were buried, the injured were tended to, the missing were searched for, the rubble was sifted through and those living were trying to shake the trauma which war delivers.
..to respond to the emergency situation covering the medical needs of the injured by supplying hospitals and clinics with urgent medical supplies and ambulances as well as the lack of access to safe water by building wells, distributing food, winter blankets and shelter homes.
Once the initial emergency needs are met, the process of trying to heal the visible and hidden scars of war remain.Running a series of short and long-term projects, MH Palestine is on the ground dealing with the many aspects of helping Gaza recover.
With full time staff and a team of dedicated volunteers permanently based in Gaza, MH Palestine is a familiar and trusted presence in the area. With over 10 years experience in Palestine, our team in Gaza are able to assess what the most urgent needs of the people are.
- Supplies of milk for newborn babies to help them gain essential nutrients to develop and grow into strong and active toddlers
- Family food parcels with staple food products such as rice, oil, flour, salt and sugar to secure a family's basic eating provision
- Student sponsorship for Gaza's university-aged young generation continue to learn, study and grow into the future professionals and leaders of the country.
- A monthly financial stipend through the family sponsorship programme for parents to secure the essentials of their children's needs whether it is school, food or medical care.
- Disabled support for those unable to use their limbs to walk by providing wheelchairs, walking frames and physiotherapy support.
- Olive and citrus tree plantation to help provide a vital source of income for Palestinian farmers and those who depend on agriculture for their livelihood.
- Stationary bag distribution for children who would otherwise not be able to afford basic equipment to see them through the school day from a rucksack, pens, paper and textbooks.
- Fresh meat distribution for the days of Qurbani so poorer families can enjoy the festivities of Eid ul Adha free from the burden of hunger.
In 2008, our country manager Saeed Saleh was on the ground in Gaza City before, during and after the attack. He witnessed firsthand the impact these extremely troubled weeks had for the people of Gaza. Read his diary of what he saw from his apartment block in Jabaliya district, Gaza City:
Just the sound and vibrations reverberating from the bomb was enough to shake the foundation of my home with windows smashed and my doors blown off their hinges. Without doubt, this was the scariest moment of my life. All I could do is look down as my children began to cry and scream. Outside the window, there are people running everywhere, more children wailing and women covered in dust. More dead, many more homes destroyed.
Mobile health clinic
Rafah water well
Intensive care units
Infant Mortality Reduction
Rehabilitation centre
Orphan sponsorship
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The world we live in is full of inequality. When conflict or natural disasters occur, countries that are not economically developed are usually unable to cope with and recover from destruction.
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