Humanity at Risk: Addressing Challenges to Principled Humanitarian Action
By Paula Rudnicka, Sr. Manager for Public Affairs. Audio production by Kallista Zormelo. For decades, the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence have underpinned humanitarian action. They provide a foundation for delivering aid with integrity and fairness, and they help ensure that assistance reaches those in need based on vulnerability and urgency, rather…
Read MoreA Message to the Community from NGOs in Gaza
In recognition of the need for NGOs to increase engagement with the community in Gaza, including increasing transparency and accountability, a coalition of Palestinian NGOs and International NGOs presents the below joint message: Firstly, we would like to convey our deep appreciation to the people of Gaza for their continued willingness to engage with NGOs,…
Read MoreMarking One Year of Devastating War and Bloodshed
Statement by Carrie Hessler-Radelet, President and CEO of Global Communities With deep concern and a commitment to peace and humanity, we mark one year since the tragic events of October 7 and the start of the war that has devastated and displaced millions. Rooted in decades of conflict and hardship, the war has brought immense…
Read MoreGaza: New Israeli orders force thousands in Deir al-Balah to flee again, and disrupt last aid hub
New displacement orders issued by Israeli authorities have forced another mass movement of families and humanitarian workers from areas in Deir al-Balah – one of the only remaining areas in the occupied Gaza Strip with essential infrastructure and warehouses storing aid supplies. Many Palestinian families, already forcibly displaced countless times since October, are on the…
Read MoreGlobal 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…
Read MoreAdapting and Innovating in a Volatile World: Reflections from the 2024 Fragility Forum
By Paula Rudnicka, Sr. Manager for Public Affairs Last month, the World Bank held its 2024 Fragility Forum – a biannual conference that brings together policymakers, researchers and practitioners from humanitarian, development and peacebuilding communities to exchange knowledge and ideas about how to improve our approaches in fragile, conflict and violence-affected settings. This year’s theme…
Read More‘Survival, Resilience and Solidarity’: Our Relief Efforts in Gaza
By Maureen Simpson Now over four months in, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has reached catastrophic levels, with one in four households facing famine levels of food insecurity and severely limited access to safe water. “Our mornings begin with a silent check – are the kids, is everyone, alright?” said Mohammad, one of 74 staff…
Read MoreGlobal Communities and Local Organizations Mobilize to Provide Emergency Meals in Gaza
Gaza Strip – Global Communities, in collaboration with Palestine Islamic Bank (PIB) and other partners, recently distributed meals to families displaced by the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The initiative reached over 2,800 families, amounting to assistance for more than 14,000 individuals. Each received at least two hot meals amid dropping winter temperatures. In this collaborative…
Read MoreGlobal Communities Mourns Loss of Colleague and Family in Gaza Airstrike
Gaza Strip — We are deeply saddened to confirm the tragic loss of our colleague, Hani Jnena (33), along with his family in Gaza, including his wife, Abeer (32), and their two young daughters, Mariam and Zayna, aged 4 and 2. Based on the information currently available to us, the young family was killed on…
Read MorePreventing and Responding to Gender-based Violence in Humanitarian Settings
By Emily Galloway, Sr. Advisor for Global Protection, Global Communities Gender-based violence (GBV) is a pervasive issue that disproportionately affects women, girls and vulnerable individuals during emergencies. In disaster or conflict-affected areas, gender inequalities and power dynamics can both exacerbate existing risks of GBV and create new ones. While risks are always context-specific, we see…
Read MoreGlobal Communities and Bank of Palestine Team Up to Provide Winterization Aid in Gaza
Gaza Strip — As part of its ongoing humanitarian efforts in the Gaza Strip, Global Communities is collaborating with the Bank of Palestine to distribute winter clothing vouchers. The Bank of Palestine has committed to funding this program, aiming to reach 1,000 families with much-needed support during the cold season. Despite the scarcity of resources,…
Read MoreOpen Call for an Immediate Ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and Israel
#CeasefireNow: Open Call for an Immediate Ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and Israel to Prevent a Humanitarian Catastrophe and Further Loss of Innocent Lives We have witnessed unfathomable death and destruction in the Gaza Strip and Israel. Thousands of people have been killed, injured, displaced, and nearly two hundred remain held hostage, including children and elderly.…
Read MoreTackling Sewage Issues in Northern Gaza for Healthier Homes and Neighborhoods
By Nour Zaqqout For years, Rami*, his four children, eight married brothers and other extended family have lived in a building plagued by chronic sewage issues in the Beit Lahia area of northern Gaza. No matter the season, leaking pipes, blockages and frequent manhole flooding have inconvenienced the residents and posed serious health risks. During…
Read MoreProviding Professional Development Opportunities to Graduate Engineers in the Gaza Strip
By Ziad Bakri and Nour Zaqqout Seven graduate students are one step closer to building a better future for themselves and the world at large after completing a seven-month engineering fellowship focused on water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) construction projects in the West Bank and Gaza. Global Communities welcomed the first cohort of engineers in…
Read MoreImproving the Livelihoods & Living Conditions of Gaza Youth through WASH Projects
Global Communities recently began implementing 10 construction projects that will directly impact the water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) needs of 3,497 households in the Gaza Strip. The projects include the installation of new water pipes, water tanks, toilets and shower taps as well as construction of a new sewage network and stormwater pipelines in seven…
Read MoreSupporting Families through Winter in Gaza
By Ziad Bakri and Lizzie Hickman In Gaza, winter brings near freezing temperatures and torrential rain, leaving families that cannot afford to winterize their homes at the mercy of the weather. To help families overcome winter-related challenges, Global Communities distributed 350 winterization and hygiene kits and conducted health promotion sessions with 3,485 households in the…
Read MoreBank of Palestine Launches “Palestine in the Heart” Campaign in Support of Humanitarian Relief Efforts in Gaza & West Bank
This article was originally published on the Palestine News Network. Ramallah/PNN Bank of Palestine Group launched “Palestine in the Heart” campaign to raise donations locally and globally in support of humanitarian relief and recovery efforts in Gaza, West Bank, and East Jerusalem. Proceeds from the campaign will go to support relief and humanitarian assistance by…
Read MoreWASH Capacity in Humanitarian Emergencies in West Bank & Gaza
The Local Government and Infrastructure (LGI) program, (2010–2017) improved the quality of life for Palestinians throughout the West Bank and Gaza for both long-term development and emergency response. Water-related infrastructure under LGI included construction of a ground water tank connected to the main water supply line and water network to ensure continued access for nearly 3,000…
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