Today, the people of Gaza are facing an unprecedented level of death, injury, disease, trauma and destruction of their ability to survive in their own land. Hunger in particular has become so severe that the large majority of the population is now facing starvation and famine.
Madison-Rafah Sister City Project has had a relationship with the city of Rafah in Gaza for 22 years. Although Israel has now completely leveled physical Rafah, its people are dispersed throughout Gaza along with the rest of Gaza’s 2 million surviving inhabitants. MRSCP continues to partner with the Middle East Children’s Alliance to provide urgent aid to children & families throughout Gaza.
During these terrifying and difficult times, Middle East Children’s Alliance’s (MECA) team in Gaza is still working to bring humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza. After a temporary ceasefire, Israel is dropping bombs on hungry, sick, and traumatized children in Gaza. Children and families in Gaza are once again desperate for the most basic things like food, water, medicine, and shelter.
Incredibly, MECA’s team of staff and community partners have been getting food and water to tens of thousands of people every single day since the genocide. As bombs are dropping on homes, tents, and shelters, Israel is still using starvation a weapon, along with the deprivation of water, medicine, and electricity.
Here’s what MECA is doing in Gaza:
Hot meals every day. MECA has opened a new solar-powered community kitchen in northern Gaza where hundreds of thousands of people returned since January. MECA’s four community kitchens in Gaza are cooking 13,000 hot meals every day. In these difficult times they have been able to buy some meat, chicken, and fresh vegetables grown locally.
Water. MECA is expanding distribution of safe, clean drinking water in the north and the south, with 14 trucks delivering clean drinking water and 13 solar-powered water purification units located in hospitals, shelters, and kitchens.
Aid. MECA is continuing to package and distribute the small amounts of aid still in their warehouses which was brought in before Israel blocked incoming aid. This includes clothing, shoes, and food parcels.
Health. MECA is providing nutrition care for children, a basic health clinic, garbage removal by donkey cart, and latrines for tent encampments.
Learn more about Madison’s fundraising campaign for Middle East Children’s Alliance and MECA’S 100% Charity Navigator rating.