A Year On: Gaza's Bombardment Continues
After months of crippling blockades and repeated bombings, the civilians we serve in Gaza are enduring unimaginable hardship. Nothing, no one, and no place in Gaza is safe. Children, families, schools, and shelters are targeted daily as bombs fall indiscriminately. Worse, access to clean water, food, and healthcare has been severely disrupted, leaving countless individuals wounded and struggling to survive.
However, it did not begin on October 7th. While Israel’s actions since that date in 2023 have devastated lives, homes, and critical infrastructure, forcing over two million people to struggle for survival, the occupation and violence against Palestinians have been ongoing since 1948 when over 750,000 Palestinians were displaced, thousands killed, and 78% of Historic Palestine was seized.
The violence is not new; it's part of a painful history that has left hundreds of thousands dead across decades.
Gaza’s Second Winter Under Attack
This winter marks Gaza’s second under relentless bombardment. Families are bracing for plummeting temperatures with no homes, no access to basic supplies, and no hope for safety.
And the bodies continue to drop
In Gaza alone, at least 44,282 people, including nearly 17,492 children while more than 104,638 have been injured and over 11,000 are missing. Within the occupied West Bank, at least 796 people have been killed, including more than 168 children, with over 6,250 injured. These numbers continue to rise every day as airstrikes and bombings persist.
In the midst of all these,Gaza has reported its first polio case in 25 years. A 10-month-old baby in war-shattered Gaza has been paralysed by the type 2 polio virus, marking the first such case in the territory in 25 years.
The reemergence of polio is a direct consequence of Gaza's destroyed infrastructure, crippled health system, aid restrictions, and massive displacement, all of which have fueled the virus's resurgence. Without swift humanitarian intervention and medical assistance, an entire generation of children is at risk of paralysis from this preventable disease.
"We have nothing. No food, no water, no homes... If you get wounded or sick and need to go to the hospital, you can’t—anything could fall from the sky at any moment, and the hospitals are already full."
While we have worked tirelessly to help families find hope amidst the chaos, the challenges remain immense. Over 94% of the water in Gaza is unsafe to drink, and more than 1 million Palestinians are experiencing catastrophic hunger with no access to essential food supplies. Children are without shelter or food, the wounded have no access to medical aid, and illegal detentions and diseases are on the rise as Gaza remains cut off from the rest of the world.
Since 2014, SKT Welfare has been on the ground in Gaza, supporting the local population. To date, we have delivered over £6 million worth of aid to Gaza, helping thousands of families across the region.
Our aid efforts in Gaza are twofold, aligned with our values of due diligence and immediate response. We focus not only on immediate relief but also on sustainable development to ensure our efforts make a lasting difference. These initiatives include the daily delivery of clean water, bread, and hot meals through our network of kitchens across the strip. Additionally, we run orphan care programs that provide crucial emotional and psychological support for children who have lost their parents due to the conflict.
Currently, SKT Welfare supplies at least 15,000 liters of clean water, 750 loaves of bread, and 5,000 hot meals daily. This essential aid helps combat the widespread famine and dire water conditions facing Gaza's population. In addition to these vital efforts, SKT Welfare plays a key role in improving healthcare in Gaza by supplying much-needed medicines and medical equipment to hospitals and clinics struggling to cope with the high number of casualties.
Most recently, in May 2024, we funded the expansion of Al-Aqsa Hospital, adding 200 beds to accommodate more patients and victims of the ongoing conflict in Gaza. We have also been tasked with rebuilding Al-Shifa Hospital.
The Heart-breaking Tale of a HOME Reduced to Rubble
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Our 100% donation policy means that every penny you donate is used in the delivery of humanitarian projects and directly related costs. Indirect and administrative costs are covered by either direct donations themselves or by using Gift Aid.
Our 100% Donation Policy means that every penny you donate is used in the delivery of humanitarian projects and directly related costs. Indirect and administrative costs are covered by either direct donations themselves or by using Gift Aid.
