alamals

1.      Summary

As the situation is deteriorating and number of victims increasing, this rapid assessment was done in cooperation with local committees which communicated with the community via phones in order to find out the emergency needs. Visit to Al.Awda hospital in North Gaza and interviewing it’s manager were other tools used in the assessment. Resilience framework indicators were used to investigate the situation.

It was revealed that some crisis started to arise It was revealed that some crisis and deterioration started to arise in food security, water and sanitation, PSS wellbeing, health care system and shelter and protection.

The recommended interventions were distributing fresh and dry food parcels immediately, water, hygiene kits, Medical emergency drugs and disposables assistance to hospitals and PSS support. In case people started to flee their houses to shelters, blankets mattresses and clothes will be a second priority.

The recommended early recovery interventions are:

Improve shelter and protection through rebuilding the totally destroyed houses and infrastructure and renovating the partially destroyed houses and infrastructure. Improve food security by rehabilitating the agricultural fishing and water infrastructure integrated with job creation. Rehabilitate and rebuild the destroyed health system to improve the people access to health services. Implement PSS interventions and to be integrated with livelihood system.

1.    Context

Since the start of the Israeli offensive after Israel launched its war on Gaza in October 2023, the number of Palestinians killed has crossed 50,000, according to health officials. Gaza’s Ministry of Health said on March 23, that at least 50,021 Palestinians have been killed and 113,274 wounded since Israel began attacking the besieged territory.

Israel’s tightened blockade cut off basic necessities, causing a severe hunger crisis with a high risk of famine persisting as of November 2024. By early 2024, Israel had caused unprecedented destruction in Gaza and made large parts of it uninhabitable, leveling entire cities, and destroying the healthcare system, agricultural land, religious and cultural landmarks, educational facilities, and cemeteries. Nearly all of the strip’s 2.3 million Palestinian population have been forcibly displaced. Torture and sexual violence were committed by Israeli forces against Palestinian civilians.

 

According to the latest assessment conducted in Gaza, more than 70% of the houses in Gaza were total destroyed and 15% were partially destroyed and inappropriate for living.

More than 80% of the people are living either in tents or on / under the rubbles of their houses with no source of income and totally dependents on relief assistance by NGOs. Uprooting 100% of the agricultural lands in Gaza pushed the food security level in Gaza to be in a sever and very critical level.

The situation in Gaza has deteriorated significantly, leading to severe crises in food security, psychosocial well-being, shelter and protection and overall health.

1.1   Food Security

 

As of late 2024, approximately 96% of Gaza’s population (about 2.15 million people) faced high levels of acute food insecurity. The risk of famine was imminent, particularly in the northern regions, due to ongoing conflict, restricted access to essential goods, and the collapse of local agri-foods systems. The World Bank reported that around 495,000 individuals were experiencing catastrophic food insecurity levels, with the situation worsening in the southern governorates. IPCInfo+1World Bank+1fightfoodcrises.netWorld Bank

 

1.2   Psychosocial Well-being

 

The prolonged conflict has inflicted profound psychological distress on Gaza’s population. Studies revealed alarmingly high rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, and stress, especially among women, young adults and children. These mental health challenges are exacerbated by continuous exposure to violence, displacement, and the destruction of communities. Increasing number of orphans. Humanitarian organizations, such as UNRWA, have been providing mental health and psychosocial support services, but delivering these under challenging conditions places staff at risk of compounded trauma. BioMed CentralOCHA+2UNRWA+2UNRWA+2

1.3   Health Situation

 

Gaza’s healthcare system is in crisis. Most facilities are damaged beyond use, and those remaining open face shortages of water, fuel, and medical supplies. The conflict has resulted in at least 43,000 fatalities and over 100,000 injuries, with nearly 1.9 million people displaced. The World Health Organization reported that attacks on healthcare have led to deaths and injuries of health workers and affected health facilities and ambulances. The lack of medical supplies, food, water, and fuel has virtually depleted an already under-resourced health system. House of Lords LibraryUnited Nations Population FundEMROWorld Health Organization (WHO)

1.4   Shelter and Infrastructure

 

  • Housing Needs: Large-scale destruction of homes, leading to mass displacement and overcrowding in shelters.
  • Energy and Electricity: Limited or no electricity due to damaged power plants and fuel shortages.
  • Reconstruction and Repair: Need for rebuilding homes, schools, hospitals, and roads.

1.5   Education

 

  • School Destruction and Displacement: Many schools are totally damaged or being used as shelters.
  • Access to Learning Materials: Shortages of books, technology, and safe learning spaces.
  • Alternative Education Programs: Remote or temporary schooling solutions needed for displaced children.

In summary, Gaza is facing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis, with its population enduring severe food shortages, profound psychological distress, and a collapsing healthcare and education system. Immediate and sustained international intervention is crucial to address these dire conditions and prevent further deterioration.

1.      Assessment Methodology

On 17 and 18 March, I conducted:

  • interviews Surveys and Interviews to get direct feedback from affected
  • Field Assessments: Data collection on infrastructure, displacement camps, and humanitarian conditions and hospitals.
  • Using the applicable part of the resilience framework in the assessment and took the relevant indicators.

2.      Summary of Findings

The international reports and all community participants confirmed that the current devastating war is affecting their wellbeing and accused a catastrophe in their lives and paralyzed their normal life aspects and increased their imminent needs to unprecedented level. All respondents confirmed that their Access to resources and services has been severely affected.

All assessment results revealed that the imminent needs in Gaza are urgent and cover multiple critical sectors, including food, healthcare, shelter, and humanitarian aid. The situation is rapidly deteriorating due to ongoing conflict, restrictions on aid, and the collapse of essential services. Here are the key immediate priorities:

2.1  Food and Nutrition

  • Over 95% of the population faces extreme food
  • Famine is imminent, especially in the
  • Immediate large-scale food aid (flour, protein sources, baby formula, etc.) is
  • Unrestricted humanitarian access is critical to prevent
  • Big loss from their damaged
  • 94% of respondents confirmed the absence of their
  • 90% of respondents confirmed their inability to buy the basic needs for their families and children.
  • Increasing level of malnutrition among all and specially children which reached more than 80% of children are suffering from malnutrition.
  • Destruction of more than 90% of the agricultural and fishing assets forced the people in Gaza to depend on unaffordable imported food.
  • 95% of the respondents confirmed that they are dependents on relief assistance delivered by NGOs in Gaza. 70% of them decreased their daily meals to one meal per day and 20 % to two meals per day.

2.2  Healthcare and Medical Supplies

  • Hospitals are severely damaged, and 90% of healthcare facilities are non-
  • Shortages of medicine, surgical supplies, and fuel threaten thousands of
  • Urgent need for trauma care, maternal health services, psychological first aid and mental health support.
  • Medical evacuations for critically ill and injured
  • 82% of respondents don’t have access to health services and 70 % are unable to get their regular treatment.

2.3  Clean Water and Sanitation

  • Severe water shortages have left people drinking unsafe
  • Risk of disease outbreaks (cholera, diarrhea, respiratory infections, scabious) is rising.
  • Immediate need for water purification, sanitation supplies, and hygiene
  • 82% of respondents revealed the difficulty to clean the living place and wash clothes and cannot bathe nor stay clean
  • 90% of respondents revealed that there is no enough water to drink and suffer from poor sanitation. They also concerned that if the crisis continued, people will not find water to drink.
  • 87 % of respondents revealed that they don’t have appropriate

2.4  Shelter and Protection

 

  • Over 9 million people (85% of the population) are displaced.
  • Most people lack adequate shelter, living in overcrowded UN shelters or makeshift tents.
  • Winter conditions increase risks of illness and
  • 75% of respondents confirmed their need for temporary housing, blankets, clothing, and fuel for heating.

2.5  Psychosocial and Mental Health Support

 

  • Widespread trauma due to prolonged conflict, loss, and
  • High rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, and stress, especially among women, young adults and children.
  • 98% of respondents are in need for mental health counseling, psychosocial first aid and support, and child protection services.

2.6  Humanitarian Access and Ceasefire

 

  • Unhindered humanitarian access is essential for relief
  • A lasting ceasefire is necessary to ensure the safe distribution of
  • Increased international efforts to prevent further

3.    Recommendations:

 

Immediate and sustained interventions are needed to prevent a worsening catastrophe. The international community must act swiftly to provide aid, open humanitarian corridors, and ensure protection for civilians. Based on the assessment study results, the recommended emergency actions are:

 

3.1  Food distribution

 

It was recommended by the local committees and interviewed community that food distribution as a first priority, the food parcel may include vegetables (Pepper, tomato, cucumber, potato, spinach, onion, eggplants, cabbage, cauliflower, eggs. and dry food (Tea, sugar, salt, 5 cans of tuna, cans of beef, cans of tomato puree, vegetable oil, rice, noodles, chick pea, crunched lintel, lintel, beans, white beans and Halawa.).

3.2  Clean Water

 

Clean water for drinking and hygienic need is a high priority for all communities after the municipal water wells were totally destroyed.

3.3  Hygiene Kits and clothes

 

It was recommended also to distribute clothes and Hygiene kits including hand towels, soap bar, shampoo, tooth brush, tooth paste, baby diapers, Dettol disinfectant, other hygienic and sanitation materials.

 

3.4  Emergency Drugs and Disposables

 

Based on my discussions with our partner “Union of Health Work Committees” UHWC, their hospital Al.Awda which is the biggest hospital in North Gaza is in urgent need to medicines and disposables, the most urgent needs are “Emergency drugs” and “Disposables”, fuel and medical equipment.

3.5  Psychosocial Support (PSS)

Psychological first aid and PSS and counseling are highly needed to respond to the high rate of PTSD among women, adults and children. Child-friendly spaces are recommended to reduce the distress level.

Orphans sponsorship program has to be established to respond to the high number of orphaned children who lost their parents during the war and left alone with no breadwinners who require PSS support.

Recommended Early recovery interventions

The assessment results revealed that the post-emergency stage (Early recovery interventions) are:

  • Improve shelter and protection through rebuilding the destroyed houses and infrastructure, and renovating the partially destroyed houses and
  • Improve food security by:
    • Rehabilitating the agricultural, fishing, and water infrastructure, integrated with Employment and Income Generation.
    • Increase Access to Markets and Cash Assistance
    • Need for direct financial support to vulnerable
  • Rehabilitate and rebuild the destroyed health system to improve the people’s access to health services.
  • Mental Health Support to decrease the effects of trauma and psychological distress due to prolonged conflict and displacement.
    • Child Protection: A High number of displaced and orphaned children require psychosocial support and education.
    • Gender-Based Violence (GBV): Increased risks of violence and exploitation, particularly for women and girls.