Help for people affected by the Gaza war

The humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip is catastrophic. The situation in Lebanon and the West Bank is also deteriorating rapidly. Hundreds of thousands of people are in urgent need of support. Caritas Switzerland and its partner organizations are providing aid for the people affected by the Gaza war.

Since the brutal attack by armed Hamas fighters in Octobre, Israel has been waging war in the Gaza Strip, causing immeasurable suffering for the civilian population. The people in the Gaza Strip lack everything. The humanitarian situation in Lebanon and in the West Bank is also becoming increasingly dire.

Caritas is deeply concerned about the current escalations and the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip and neighboring regions. Caritas Switzerland continues to insist on a permanent ceasefire that includes a cessation of attacks on civilians and civilian facilities by both sides and a ceasefire of hostilities and rocket fire.

Join us in helping people in need

More than two million people in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and in neighboring countries such as Lebanon are in urgent need of humanitarian aid. Please support our important commitment with a donation today. Together we can help to alleviate the greatest need. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your support.

The current situation in the Gaza Strip

There is a severe food shortage in the Gaza Strip and the civilian population suffers from limited access to clean water and sanitation as well as a lack of healthcare. For example, only few hospitals in the Gaza Strip are still functional and on a small scale. The suffering and hardship of the people continues to grow. The immense need for drinking water, food, medicines and hygiene products has so far been insufficiently covered by the approved aid deliveries.

The humanitarian situation in neighboring areas

Lebanon: The situation in Lebanon is also coming to a head due to the escalating spiral of violence. The attacks have led to numerous fatalities and considerable material damage to the water, electricity and telecommunications infrastructure, particularly in southern Lebanon. More than 340'000 people have been internally displaced to central and northern regions of Lebanon. Caritas Switzerland is currently able to continue its ongoing projects in Lebanon with minor restrictions. At the same time, staff on the ground are clarifying possible further support for the civilian population, an emergency aid project has already been launched. The situation is very volatile.

• Wael Darwish, Country Director Lebanon and Syria, in dialogue

• HEAL - Humanitarian Emergency Assistance for Lebanon

West Bank: The humanitarian situation in the West Bank is also tense and deteriorating rapidly. The war is having a particularly severe impact on the economic situation. Many people from the West Bank worked in Israel before the escalation, which is now no longer possible. Tourism has also collapsed as a result of the clashes, which has further weakened the economy. People's purchasing power is also falling sharply in the West Bank.

Our local partner organizations provide tireless help

Our two local partner organizations Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and Caritas Jerusalem have been working in the Gaza Strip for decades and continue to provide life-saving aid to the civilian population even under the tightened circumstances.

Due to the recurring offensives work in these areas needs to be paused repeatedly. Different warehouses are no longer accessible at times and more and more people are having to leave the embattled areas, including staff from our partner organisations.

The engagement of CRS and Caritas Jerusalem in the Gaza Strip is currently focused on areas in the centre, where most of the displaced people from Rafah settle. The aid is constantly adapted to the prevailing conditions and the needs of the civilian population. Both partner organisations are also active in the West Bank.

CRS aid: focus on aid deliveries

CRS's emergency aid projects focus on the delivery of relief supplies.

Since October 2023 CRS distributed bedding, tarpaulins and tents, food parcels and rations and provided cash assistance. Another important aspect of the help provided by CRS is psychosocial support. Many people have lost relatives and friends. Our partner organization provides psychological first aid and offers trauma and grief counselling at various locations, also for children.

So far, CRS has provided the following assistance from October 2023 to the end of August 2024:

The support of Caritas Jerusalem: Medical care

The humanitarian aid provided by our second partner organization Caritas Jerusalem focuses primarily on medical care for the civilian population in the Gaza Strip and in West Bank.

Since January 2024, Caritas Jerusalem will be implementing new measures to directly support a further 23'275 people in the Gaza Strip and in West Bank:

• The Caritas Gaza Medical Center is being repaired and the capacity of the Caritas Taybeh Medical Center is being expanded.
• In addition, 7'000 people in the Gaza Strip and Rafah are receiving medical care.
• 2'750 families are being supported with cash to cover their basic needs.
• 500 children are receiving psychosocial support.

From October to December 2023 Caritas Jerusalem supported people with basic medical care, food aid, psychological support and cash assistance. Caritas Jerusalem has also donated medicines and medical supplies to three hospitals in Gaza.

People at the center of our commitment

Caritas Switzerland and the entire Caritas network, including CRS and Caritas Jerusalem, are committed to the humanitarian principles of impartiality and independence. In this humanitarian crisis, the focus of our commitment is on the suffering civilian population.

Further information

• Caritas Switzerland calls for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and Israe (German or French)

• Humanitarian aid at Caritas Switzerlan (German or French)

• News

Header image: According to the UN, only rapid action can prevent famine in the Gaza Strip. © Ismael Mohamad/UPI Photo