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Terre des Hommes gives humanitarian assistance in Gaza

February 8th, 2024

Terre des Hommes Netherlands secured 800,000 euros to provide life-saving humanitarian assistance in Gaza. We partner with the International Federation and the Palestine Medical Mission, which is already on the ground providing life-saving health and protection assistance. The project will support over 16,000 individuals, focusing on specialised health services for pregnant and lactating women, newborns, children, and adults with disabilities, as well as people with chronic diseases.

erre des Hommes Netherlands starts life-saving humanitarian support in Gaza
TdH NL starts life-saving humanitarian support in Gaza

Current context

As of December 13, the death toll in the Gaza Strip has risen to 18,608, including over 4,500 children. Additionally, there are more than 50,594 reported injuries, with over 3,000 people currently missing and around 135 remaining as hostages in Gaza. Over 85% of the 2.3 million Gaza inhabitants have been displaced across the Gaza strip, some multiple times. Children and families are forced to move repeatedly for safety reasons. This widespread displacement is attributed to the loss of homes and significant damage to residential structures. According to the UN, at least 42% of all housing units in the Gaza Strip have been either destroyed or damaged due to continuous strikes.

Humanitarian situation

The war in Gaza has inflicted immense suffering on the civilian population, leading to a dire humanitarian crisis. Over 1.9 million individuals are displaced, essential services are either crippled or halted entirely, and access to basic necessities such as food and water is scarce. This crisis stands as one of the worst humanitarian catastrophes in recent history, significantly impacting an already vulnerable population. 

We are offering health services through our local partner, PMRS (Palestinian Medical Relief Society). 

Number of people reached so far: As of January, with the health response, we have reached 9,310 people.

Current challenges affecting our work: Security is, of course, a significant challenge. However, in terms of implementation, the primary challenge is the procurement of items. There are limitations on goods entering Gaza, and there are also limited ways of entry. Currently, our partners are exploring the possibilities to facilitate the entry of essential items for the project.

Impact on children

With half of Gaza's population being children, the impact of the war on them is severe. Every 10 minutes, a child loses their life in Gaza. The UN chief has called it a "graveyard for children." Those who survive may face irrevocable changes, as repeated exposure to traumatic events can induce toxic stress. This stress can impede physical and cognitive development, leading to mental health problems in both the short and long term. Even before this escalation, over 816,000 children in Gaza—three-quarters of the entire child population—were identified as needing mental health and psychosocial support.

Current challenges

With continued military operations in Gaza, access has become challenging for humanitarian operations mounting to a level that has never been seen in any other contexts. Aid organisations encounter multiple barriers in delivering assistance due to the destruction of humanitarian service facilities, a lack of access to safe corridors for supplies, and challenges in ensuring the safe movement of staff. More than 130 Humanitarian aid workers, 286 health workers and 203 educational staff have been killed. 

How Terre des Hommes is supporting

Terre des Hommes through its international federation members have been operational in the Palestinian territories for over 50 years. Since day one of the recent escalation Terre des Hommes Netherlands has been closely following the situation through in-ground contact with staff in the country and region as well as through our dutch based alliances i.e the Dutch Relief Alliance (DRA) and Samenwerkende Hulporganisaties (SHO). 

Timelines

  • On 25th January, TdH, among other organisations, signed an Open Call request to all UN Member States to stop fuelling the crisis in Gaza and avert further humanitarian catastrophe and loss of civilian life. The call addresses all States to immediately halt the transfer of weapons, parts, and ammunition to Israel and Palestinian armed groups while there is risk they are used to commit or facilitate serious violations of international humanitarian or human rights law.

  • On 16 January 2024 as an international child rights organisation working in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), Terre des Hommes wrote an open letter to world leaders to express our outrage at the grave and urgent situation facing Palestinian children, and to call upon them to act urgently to achieve a peaceful resolution. The statement was sent directly to more than 30 relevant leaders, offices, and institutions, including United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

  • On 18 December, organisations and individuals from more than 90 countries across the world, including Terre des Hommes International Federation and Terre des Hommes Netherlands mark a Global Day of Action to push for a sustained ceasefire in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory to protect all civilians affected by the conflict.
  • On the 13th October the International Federation of Terre des Hommes joined the United Nations Secretary-General’s request to all parties and to the international community to avoid any further escalation and released a statement
  • On the 20th October the International Federation of Terre des Hommes joined the urgent appeal calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza  to Prevent a Humanitarian Catastrophe and Further Loss of Innocent Lives. The appeal also urges for immediate release of civilian hostages, especially children and elderly. 
  • Terre des Hommes Netherlands has also joined the open call signed by over 700 organisations globally on the 23rd October. 
  • On October 23, members of the Dutch Relief Alliance jointly released a statement emphasising the critical need to protect civilians and ensure unhindered access for humanitarian actors in Gaza. 
  • On the 25th of October, we distributed several key messages on our social media and website, advocating for a ceasefire. Over 900,000 people signed the petition.
  • On the 25th of October, representatives from the Dutch Relief Alliance met with Minister Liesje Schreinemacher to brief about the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the need for immediate ceasefire and unfettered access to deliver the much needed aid emphasising the need for upholding International Humanitarian Law by all parties involved in the war. She reiterated to advocate for unhindered humanitarian assistance. https://twitter.com/LSchreinemacher/status/1717143471205519509
  •  At the beginning of November, Terre des Hommes Netherlands secured 800,000 euros to provide life-saving humanitarian assistance in Gaza. We partner with the International Federation and the Palestine Medical Mission, which is already on the ground providing life-saving health and protection assistance. The project aims to support over 16,000 individuals, focusing on specialised health services for pregnant and lactating women, newborns, children, and adults with disabilities, as well as people with chronic diseases. The project will also address the immediate non-food item needs of pregnant and lactating women, newborns, and children with disabilities. All individuals receiving health and non-food item assistance will also receive psychosocial intervention. https://twitter.com/LSchreinemacher/status/1717902179162267832 
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