We welcome the fragile ceasefire in Gaza. Our people have undergone unprecedented violence and held on to their hope that a different future can still be theirs. UPA shares their belief.  

We know that critical needs remain for food, water, clothing, shelter, medicines, medical equipment, and support for an entire population, especially children, suffering from immense trauma. But, like the stalwart people of Gaza who have been seen sweeping streets and painting what buildings remain in pastel colors, quite literally wresting hope out of rubble, UPA is also focused on long-term recovery and reconstruction.  

Our presence in Gaza for over 46 years, and the trust and partnerships we have nurtured for decades are the backbone of UPA’s work and we are bringing them to bear in Gaza. Even as we continue to provide immediate relief to our people, we are putting into action initiatives that we have already planned with our partners. The most significant of these will relate to our flagship program, Fortifying the Palestinian Medical Sector (FPMS), which will enable us to refurbish, operationalize, and equip medical facilities in Gaza. Likewise, plans are in place to restart our Healing Through Feeling program which is designed to address the mental health and psycho-social wellbeing of children.  

Patience, persistence, and innovation have been our virtues. Indeed, they are the qualities that permitted us to bring relief to families without pause for the last fifteen months. And it is these same qualities that allowed us to establish a more robust mental health and psychosocial support framework for the people of Gaza with activities delivered at shelters through our Mobile Medical Teams.  

None of this would be possible without our donors. Your generous support empowers us to continue our work, not only to bring critical humanitarian aid to Gaza, but ensuring that the future will, truly, be brighter for our people. Together, we can make it happen.