Global Communities Ramps Up Hot Meal Distribution, Nutrition Assistance in Gaza 

Amid widespread and severe food insecurity in Gaza, Global Communities, in collaboration with the World Food Programme (WFP), has started tripling the number of hot meals we are distributing daily. Since March 13, our team has increased its hot meal distribution from 10,000 meals per day to 30,000 hot meals per day, aiming to mitigate the severe hunger faced by over 2 million people in Gaza.

“We are addressing the most profound needs I’ve ever witnessed, transcending mere survival and food security, to fundamentally sustain the human spirit in our vulnerable communities,” said Ra’ed, who directs Global Communities’ food assistance program in Gaza. 

The decision to increase the number of meals was driven by an acute awareness of the dire circumstances facing those most affected by the Israel/Palestinian war. The entire population of Gaza is currently facing acute food insecurity, including one million people for whom famine is imminent.

Global Communities has escalated its operations, including the addition of a new distribution site, to accommodate the increased demand for food. To date, our Palestinian-led team has provided nearly 2.1 million hot meals to those in need. This is in addition to more than 157,000 food parcels we have distributed outside United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) centers since January. Each food parcel provides two weeks of support for a family of five people.

“At Global Communities, our priority and guiding principle is the delivery of humanitarian aid to those severely affected,” said Carrie Hessler-Radelet, CEO and President of Global Communities. “Our dedication to this cause is matched by the incredible courage of our staff in Gaza, who, despite their own losses and hardships, continue to facilitate our humanitarian response with steadfast dedication. Their courage in the face of danger is a powerful testament to the values we hold dear at Global Communities.” 

As the conflict enters its seventh month, women, children and newborns continue to suffer disproportionately. In February 2024, the Global Nutrition Cluster released a report documenting the deteriorating nutrition situation in Gaza due to food insecurity, lack of access to safe water and sanitation, widespread disease and a collapsed health system. Over 90% of children under 2 and pregnant and lactating women are eating two or fewer food groups each day, and the food they have access to is of the lowest nutritional value. 

In early March, to help address this crisis, Global Communities started an initiative to reach pregnant and lactating women and children ages 3 months to 5 years old with Lipid-Based Nutrient Supplements (LNS). To date, we have reached 8,000 people with LNS and plan to scale up our operations to reach approximately 105,000 people monthly. 

Read more here about our ongoing relief efforts in Gaza.