CNEWA-Pontifical Mission continues to coordinate efforts and partner with the local church and humanitarian organizations to relieve hunger and provide basic humanitarian needs for the people in Gaza impacted by the war between Israel and Hamas.

Since the start of the war in October until February, a donation made by CNEWA provided hot meals to 760 displaced Christians sheltering at two churches in Gaza City—St. Porphyrios and Holy Family — as well as those in the vicinity and other neighborhoods in the city. The donation also provided essential medicines for those with chronic illnesses and diseases, as well as hygiene kits, diapers, fuel, cooking gas, bottled water and cleaning supplies.

In March and April, CNEWA-Pontifical Mission has worked in coordination with a local communal food kitchen to deliver food aid to displaced people in Gaza City and Rafah. So far, this project has reached about half of the 600 families it is slated to reach.

CNEWA donations also support the ongoing delivery of food packages to 150 families in Gaza City in coordination with the local church. Packages include one week of basic food supplies, such as 4.4 lbs. of wheat flour, tahini, 1 liter of cooking oil, 8 ounces of halva, and canned olives.

CNEWA funding also supported the distribution of food packages for 400 displaced families, a total of 2,240 people, in Rafah in collaboration with a local partner, the Association for Woman and Child Protection, which is currently providing emergency humanitarian assistance for women and children in displacement camps in Rafah. Food packages included canned beans, two lbs. of rice, one liter of cooking oil and other basic food supplies needed to cook warm, nutritious, calorie-rich meals.

In northern Gaza, including in Gaza City, the people are surviving on 245 calories a day — less than a can of beans. The price of food has skyrocketed, and the average family cannot afford basic food supplies.

The United Nations reports that 31 percent of children under the age of two in northern Gaza suffer from acute malnutrition. Last month, a report by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) reported that famine is imminent in northern Gaza.