Life after the ceasefire: Update from Gaza
Our partners continue to work tirelessly in extremely challenging circumstances to provide the vital aid that the people of Gaza need as they strive to continue their daily lives in their war-torn surroundings.
The fighting may have officially stopped, but a humanitarian catastrophe is still unfolding, as this update from our partner The Department of Service to Palestinian Refugees (DSPR) makes clear:
The siege on Gaza remains suffocating
Despite its significance, the ceasefire does not constitute real peace; rather, it is only a first step on a long road toward ending injustice and halting the ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people, especially in Gaza.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains extremely fragile. Despite the official announcement of the ceasefire, violations continue daily, the siege on Gaza remains suffocating, and humanitarian aid is still limited, slow, and restricted mainly to food, with very little access to other essential supplies such as medicine, fuel, and tents.
Meanwhile, people continue to live amid massive destruction and the collapse of infrastructure. UN reports indicate that tens of thousands of families are still at risk of forced displacement or living in completely unsafe conditions, while UNRWA facilities, overcrowded with displaced families who have nowhere else to go, continue to come under attack.
Our clinics now receive 1,200 people per day
After our original clinics were destroyed, we now operate three newly established emergency clinics set up under bombardment and extreme danger: one in Al-Nuseirat camp in the central Gaza Strip, and two in Gaza City. Unfortunately, we remain unable to work in Rafah, where most areas remain under military occupation and subjected to daily destruction of homes, buildings, and essential services.
The DSPR ran mobile clinics in Gaza throughout the war.
Our clinics now receive 1,200 people per day on average, providing medical consultations, services for children, pregnant and nursing women, pharmacy services, especially for patients with chronic diseases, as well as dental care and laboratory tests.
We also continue to deliver health awareness for women, helping them protect themselves and their families from illness in an environment that grows more severe each day. Additionally, we distribute fortified food items, hygiene kits, and blankets, especially for new mothers and their infants, in addition to distributing food parcels to families who can’t afford food.
As winter sets in, the hardship grows
Alongside this, our psychosocial support programme continues to serve thousands of women and children, helping them build psychological resilience amid profound loss, fear, and the absence of safety or hope for a better future.
Psychological support session for children in Gaza.
Caring for our staff is equally essential, as they themselves endure the same suffering. Many have lost family members and loved ones, and we have mourned the loss of five of our colleagues, and their families, during this genocide war.
As winter sets in, the hardship grows even more severe, more than half of Gaza’s population is living in tents or beneath the remains of destroyed homes, many of which have already flooded from the rain. The other half live in what remains of homes, schools, or public buildings that are no longer suitable for habitation.
A living testimony to love, justice, and peace amid suffering
We believe that DSPR’s service is not merely humanitarian work, but a living testimony to love, justice, and peace amid suffering. From God we draw the strength to continue our mission, standing with the oppressed and serving the hurting with all we can offer.
As the Lord teaches:
““The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.””
Looking to the future
To strengthen and sustain our work, we are planning for the period after a full and permanent ceasefire, including efforts to rebuild our capacities, clinics, and vocational training centers.
We are also seeking access to urgent winter assistance, blankets, clothing, and essential supplies for displaced families, while expanding our health services and psychosocial support interventions. Additionally, we remain committed to providing care, encouragement, and emotional and material support to our staff.
Food parcels bring a moment of joy and normality for children in Gaza.
We kindly ask you to keep us, and all those we serve, in your prayers as we continue our work in Gaza under extremely difficult and painful circumstances. Your prayers strengthen us, sustain our teams, and bring hope to the communities who are enduring immense hardship.
We trust that God blesses every effort made for the sake of life, human dignity, ending genocide, and building a true peace rooted in justice. We at the DSPR extend our deepest gratitude for your support, prayers, solidarity, and companionship on this difficult journey.
Your contributions enable us to carry forward a message of justice, mercy, and peace, and help keep the light of hope alive in the hearts of our people.
YOUR SUPPORT FOR DSPR GOES TWICE AS FAR
Give a donation through our Big Give Christmas Campaign today and your donation will be matched by the Big Give, bringing greater hope and support to the people of Gaza.
Updates from Gaza
Stay up-to-date with the most recent information as we receive it from our partners.
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