Project Overview

The ongoing war in Palestine, with its restrictions on movement and an economic embargo, has left the poor vulnerable to food shortages.

Islamic Relief's Food to Survive project supports poor families with much needed food parcels to ensure their survival while the food shortages continue.

Islamic Relief aid workers are distributing 33,000 food parcels to needy families affected by the embargo.

Project Background

The current crisis comes at a time when people in Gaza and the West Bank are particularly vulnerable to poverty. Over the past five years Gaza and the West Bank have been subject to military incursions, the destruction of thousands of Palestinian homes and vast areas of agricultural land, public facilities and infrastructure.

In addition, international aid to the Palestinian Authority (PA) is now dwindling following the last legislative elections.

The need for humanitarian relief is rising steeply as thousands of families lose their incomes. The freezing of civil servants salaries has meant that thousands of people have been buying on credit, but groceries and supermarkets are now unable to sustain the debts their customers owe to them.

Project Objectives

To relieve the hardship experienced by the poor in Palestine as a result of the recent severe conditions in Palestine through the provision of food parcels to about 33,000 families (new poor families).

This project will supplement IR's overall relief, rehabilitation and development programmes.

Project Activities

To provide food for 33,000 poor families suffering food insecurity in Palestine. 13,000 will be distributed in the West Bank and 20,000 in the Gaza Strip during the summer of 2006.

Beneficiaries

The project will support 33,000 poor families in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.