The Issue
Since 7 October 2023, 2.3 million people in the Gaza Strip have suffered the consequences of active conflict and loss of access to essential goods and services. Intense Israeli bombardment and ground operations continue to be reported across Gaza. By May 2024 this had resulted in some 35,000 people killed in Gaza (70% estimated to be women and children), the displacement of 1.7 million people (75% of the population), and the widespread destruction of houses, hospitals, and other civilian infrastructure.
Living without electricity and increasingly limited access to other basic services (water, healthcare, shelter), most people within Gaza are displaced, and the entire population is considered in need of humanitarian support. Almost 80,000 people have been wounded, and with little access to healthcare, victims remain exceedingly vulnerable.
The Project
To respond to the crisis in Gaza, this intervention was designed to focus on addressing needs related to cash, water, sanitation and hygiene. The project employs Emergency Multipurpose Cash Assistance to vulnerable people within Gaza, with the objective of enabling people affected by conflict to access essential basic goods and services during the ongoing crisis.
In addition to cash assistance, the project will also provide essential cleaning, maintenance, and light, protective repairs to water, sanitation and hygiene facilities within shelters.
The project aims to support the restoration of basic services within Gaza through the repair of public infrastructure. And lastly, we aim to meet the short-to-medium-term needs of displaced people through support of shelters and basic non-food items to families remaining displaced in informal shelters. This support will aim to enable internally displaced persons to improve safety, dignity, and protection of their living facilities.
The Change
The main expected result from this intervention is that conflict-affected families receive emergency cash and in-kind support to enable the meeting of basic needs. More precisely, the intervention is expected to enhance access to basic goods and services, improving the immediate well-being of vulnerable individuals. It will also lead to better public health and sanitation by increasing access to clean water and improving hygiene facilities.
The restoration of essential water, sanitation and hygiene services will benefit the broader community, contributing to public health and safety. Additionally, providing shelter and non-food items support will increase safety and dignity for displaced families.
The Results
The emergency multi-purpose cash assistance was disbursed to 555 households, reaching approximately 3,000 beneficiaries. Post-distribution monitoring by local partners indicates that most of the cash was spent on food, followed by other lifesaving necessities such as medicine and water supplies. This demonstrates our support in ensuring these families can access their most basic needs. Additionally, the project successfully implemented light repairs to three water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities in the targeted shelters within the Rafah Governorate, benefiting more than 6,000 people. These repairs have provided access to clean facilities, thereby increasing beneficiaries’ dignity, privacy, and overall well-being.
Our Partner
DCA/NCA works with MA’AN Development Center to implement the project. MA’AN is an independent Palestinian development and training NGO working in Gaza and the West Bank. MA’AN is one of the largest local agencies in Palestine, supporting both humanitarian, development and empowerment programming. MA’AN maintains a thorough portfolio and expertise in cash and voucher assistance, water, sanitation and hygiene, food security and protection programming. Since the outbreak of war in 2023, the organization is actively responding in Gaza.
Our Work
DCA and NCA work in Palestine to support Palestinian communities in Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem to be economically and socially resilient and active participants in decision making processes affecting their lives. This includes advocating for respect for international humanitarian law, human rights and a just peace.
About the project
Full title: Integrated Emergency Response to the Gaza Crisis; MPCA, WASH, Shelter / NFI Support to Conflict-Affected Families
Period: December 2023 – December 2024
Partner: MA’AN Development Center
Funding: DKK 4,794,636
Expected number of people reached: 38,000
Main Donors: CLWR, Humanitarian Coalition & the Canadian Government
