April 2024: Charities Providing Aid in Gaza

On April 1st, 2024, seven of World Central Kitchen's aid workers were tragically killed while providing aid in Gaza.  The charity "suspended operations at 68 'community kitchens' it had been operating in Gaza for the last six months. The group says it has provided more than 43 million meals to Palestinians during that time," according to NBC News. According to NPR, Gaza's "official" death toll now exceeds 30,000, but some believe the figure is far higher. 

People suffering as a result of the Israel-Hamas war desperately need continued humanitarian assistance. CharityWatch announces our updated list of legitimate, efficient, and accountable charities involved in efforts to aid and assist victims of the Israel-Hamas war. We will continue to update our list as new information becomes available. 

Warning: Unscrupulous charities will sometimes use disasters as a money grab to raise funds for unrelated causes. CharityWatch does not add just any charity to our disaster alerts. We sort through the marketing fluff of charities to find out what specific aid is being provided to victims before adding an organization to our list. 

The charities listed below are Top-Rated by CharityWatch for spending at least 75% of their cash budgets on programs; for maintaining fundraising efficiency of $25 or less to raise each $100 in cash donations; and for meeting CharityWatch’s governance & transparency benchmarks.

American Friends Service Committee has distributed 59 kits containing water and vegetables, ensuring a week's worth of support for them. As Ramadan began last month, AFSC also distributed food parcels to 200 families with children with cancer and autism, reaching more than 1,400 people. These efforts are one part of AFSC's ongoing emergency relief efforts in Gaza. (As of March 22, 2024)

Americares has deployed logistics experts to Egypt to participate in coordination meetings and facilitate shipments across the Rafah border to Gaza in hopes additional aid will be allowed through. They have prepared a shipment of essential medical supplies designed to treat upwards of 100,000 people which includes surgical supplies, bandages, antibiotics and other medicines for chronic health conditions. Additionally, Americares is providing funding to Project HOPE, HIAS, and other organizations currently providing aid and have been since the beginning of the conflict. (As of March 28, 2024)

Direct Relief has provided 23 tons of critically needed medicines and medical supplies in its latest delivery. Distribution of the 73 pallets has begun with products resupplying field hospitals, mobile medical units, and primary health tents. The aid delivery also includes medications to benefit thousands of individuals with chronic diseases, cardiovascular ailments, and injuries, as well as prenatal vitamins and water purification tablets.  (As of March 12, 2024)

Doctors Without Borders/MSF is donating medical supplies to hospitals and health facilities in Gaza to respond to medical needs. MSF does not run medical programs in Israel, which has strong emergency and health services. MSF has been running medical programs in Gaza for more than 20 years, supporting a health care system that urgently lacks both medical personnel and supplies. Their teams have provided support in the following hospitals and clinics: Nasser Hospital, Al-Aqsa Hospital, Al-Awda Hospital, Al-Shifa Hospital, Rafah Indonesian Field Hospital, and many others. They also operate several medical programs in the West Bank. (As of April 2, 2024)

HIAS has been operating in Israel since 1950. Within 24 hours of the initial conflict, HIAS activated its Emergency Response protocols to provide life-saving support to those displaced. Their core emergency capabilities include hygiene supplies, blankets, dignity kits, mental health and psychological support, and child protection.  As of March 20, 2024 HIAS reports that 92,073 people have received mental health first aid, 6,430 people accessed information to get services and protect themselves, and 1,183 children accessed safe spaces. 

International Medical Corps (IMC) has had staff on the ground in Gaza since 2008. They have deployed a 140-bed field hospital providing surgical, trauma, orthopedic, obstetric and newborn care, inpatient, outpatient, pharmacy and other lifesaving medical services to as many 800 civilians per day affected by the war. IMC is actively trying to increase access to health, protection, mental health, water, sanitation and hygiene services, and ensure a steady supply of medicines, supplies and training to those in need. (As of March 11, 2024)

Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) is providing emergency relief with existing partners in Gaza, distributing locally purchased food packages, hygiene items and bedding as well as cash transfers to families in need. MCC is also working to help children cope with the trauma. In the West Bank, partners are providing food assistance and agricultural supplies and trainings for people who have been affected by the violence there. And in Southern, Lebanon, MCC is providing emergency food for displaced people. 

Mercy Corps has operated in the West Bank and Gaza since 1986, providing humanitarian support including access to water, working with children and young people, and connecting people to economic opportunities. Mercy Corps' first shipments have cleared the border despite difficulties and uncertainty in delivering aid to Gaza in the early weeks of the conflict. Through their partnerships with local organizations, Mercy Corps has provided aid to approximately 1,300 families who have been limited to one meal a day. Each food kit serves a family of four for a few days. (As of March 20, 2024)

Muslim Aid USA is actively responding to this humanitarian crisis, working alongside their partners on the ground. They are delivering essential medical aid and equipment to the main hospitals in Gaza. They are also providing food packages and vital non-food items such as hygiene kits and other necessities to those who are in need.

Project HOPE has deployed emergency response personnel to the region to address urgent needs in Israel and Egypt. The Staff are also coordinating with local authorities, UN agencies, and civil society to coordinate the delivery of aid for both Israel and Gaza. Project HOPE's team in Gaza has provided over 12,000 health consultations at their primary health clinics in Rafah and Deir al Balah. They currently have prepositioned additional medical supplies that are still awaiting entry into Gaza. (As of April 2, 2024)

United States Fund for UNICEF has been operating in Gaza since the 1980’s. They have provided water treatment reagent to sustain the UNICEF-supported desalination plant providing water for 75,000 people. Also, they have released medical supplies to hospitals in the Gaza Strip including medicines for at least 1,600 people amidst the escalating hostilities. Since October, UNICEF has delivered 594 truckloads of aid to children and families in Gaza. Over the past two weeks, UNICEF moved 48 truckloads of critical emergency supplies across the border, including: various vaccines, nutrition supplies, water pipes for infrastructure repair, syringes, 11,300 synthetic blankets, and 7,800 sleeping mats. (As of March 21, 2024)