Humanitarian response needed in Gaza and beyond

One thousand days into the war, the suffering in Gaza continues. People in Gaza continue to endure immense hardship. While a ceasefire is in place, for many it has not brought safety, stability, or the chance to begin rebuilding their lives. Families remain unable to plan for the future, return home with confidence, or recover from years of conflict. Below, Mercy Corps team members in Gaza, along with our Response Director, share what life looks like today in their own words. 

Mercy Corps Response Director in Gaza, Rachel Norris, said:  

“The fact that we have reached 1,000 days of conflict in Gaza is a moral and political failure on a global level. The current ceasefire has failed to bring meaningful relief, as conflict has not reduced and Palestinians still live in uncertainty, unsure where their daily water or food will come from, living in shelters collapsing around them, facing frequent displacement, and not knowing when they will finally be able to rebuild their lives. Families no longer have the luxury of dreaming of their futures and instead are forced to just dream of survival. It has been 1,000 days of unparalleled suffering.” 

Mercy Corps Team Member in Gaza, Zeina, Said: 

"When I heard the news about the ceasefire, I broke down in tears because I could no longer bear waiting for the feeling of safety or the hope that things would finally begin to improve. I believed that life would start to return to normal and that suffering would begin to ease. But until now, we are still trapped in the same endless nightmare. There is still no real sense of security, and access to healthcare remains extremely difficult. Personally, when I get sick, I often choose to stay at home and endure the illness rather than go to a clinic or hospital, because I am afraid of catching one of the many infectious diseases that have become widespread among children and families.

"When I walk through the streets, nothing has truly changed. Every day, we pass through destruction and rubble, and the smell of death still lingers in the air. We are not safe, targeted killings continue, and innocent people are still paying the price." 

Mercy Corps Team Member in Gaza, Wafaa, Said: 

"Although the intensity of the fighting has decreased compared with previous months, people in Gaza continue to live in constant fear. Sudden airstrikes still occur, including attacks affecting transportation routes, leaving civilians uncertain whether any place is truly safe. While the situation may appear calmer from the outside, for people in Gaza the crisis has not ended. It has become a quieter emergency, where hunger, poverty, disease, and the collapse of essential services continue to threaten lives every day.

"The ceasefire hasn't brought normal life back. Every day, families are still struggling to find food they can afford, enough safe water to survive the heat, and basic services that continue to break down because fuel and essential supplies can't get in. Waste is piling up, disease is spreading, and every day feels like another fight for survival. The humanitarian crisis is far from over."

Since October 2023, Mercy Corps and our local partners have reached over 400,000 people in Gaza with emergency support - including food, cash, hygiene supplies, clean water, shelter kits, emergency livelihoods assistance, and psychosocial support. We are currently scaling cash, livelihoods, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) activities to support additional vulnerable families across the Gaza Strip. Mercy Corps remains poised to deliver thousands of additional lifesaving kits and supplies, which could support over 160,000 people directly, however these items remain blocked from entry by the Israeli government. Mercy Corps’ highly experienced Palestinian team in Gaza remains at the forefront of implementation, ensuring the consistent delivery of impactful, timely, and principled support to affected communities.