Our presence in Gaza for over 45 years, and the trust and partnerships we have nurtured for decades, are the backbone of UPA’s humanitarian interventions in Gaza. Our emergency response began within 72 hours of the start of the latest bombardment on October 7th, 2023, making us one of the first organizations to address the crisis. To do so, we tapped into the resources which have always been a part of our emergency preparedness throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territories, as well as in Lebanon, and Jordan.
Our multi-million-dollar project, Fortifying the Palestinian Medical Sector (FPMS), granted us immediate access to critical pharmaceuticals and medical supplies, which we rushed to hospitals in dire need. In addition, our Mobile Medical Teams (MMT), equipped not only with medical professionals, but psycho-social workers, have been operating inside Gaza throughout this catastrophe, and were a critical part of the latest polio vaccine campaign.
For as long as was possible, we enabled Palestinian farmers to harvest what remained in their fields. Once those sources became inaccessible due to the bombing and destruction, we continued local procurements that were supplemented by shipments we brought in across the border. Fresh and shelf-stable food, and water distributions have been ongoing initiatives for us. Our distributions also include clothing, and TravelrPack sleeping bags which provide both shelter and warmth for displaced people.
Despite an unprecedented blockade, and multiple difficulties, our team has worked around the clock to pursue every possible avenue to bring relief to families. We have done this work by bringing supplies directly to the most vulnerable, and honoring their dignity every step of the way. Our clothing distributions, for instance, are never random; instead, we permit families to choose the items that fit their needs. Our food and water distributions take place on site to reduce the difficulty, risk, and embarrassment of having to struggle for basic necessities.
Patience, persistence, and innovation have been our virtues. As local resources have depleted, we have repeatedly packed trucks with critical supplies secured through our extensive Gifts in Kind (GIK) program, and held them poised for dispatch as soon as clearance is granted. As a result, we have been able to deliver multiple shipments, including food and medications, despite significant challenges.
While one of UPA’s flagship projects, Healing through Feeling (HTF), designed to bring trauma-informed care to children, was forced to stop at the onset of the genocide, our commitment to holistic care remained unwavering. Recognizing the immense need for psychological and psychosocial support—now greater than ever—we restructured our efforts through our MMTs, which have been providing psychological support in addition to clinical care in makeshift shelters, but also psychosocial support. Most recently, we have begun to establish a more robust mental health and psychosocial support framework for the people of Gaza. Though it has taken on a different form than HTF, our renewed support includes psychological first aid, individual and group sessions, recreational activities, and our “Young Hakawati“ (storytelling) initiative for children—each component offering a sense of hope and connection amidst unimaginable devastation.
As always, none of this would be possible without our generous donors. Your support empowers us to continue this essential work, bringing critical humanitarian relief to Gaza during a time of unparalleled need. Together, we can continue to sustain our people and bring them hope.
