Since 27 December 2008 and despite the intense fighting and the fragile security situation CHF Gaza team has managed to distribute food to more than 105,000 people in Northern and Southern Gaza Strip and has provided plastic sheeting to cover broken windows to all hospitals and major clinics in GazaCity. CHF is continuing to procure essential humanitarian assistance for the civilian population in Gaza and is actively planning interventions for medium and long-term support to the post-emergency rebuilding process.

CHF is conducting assessments in Gaza, initially covering most affected neighborhoods in Gaza City and Khan Younis city in the south, through telephone interviews and, where possible, through house-to-house surveys using our network of neighborhood committees, partner NGOs and own staff, to determine the most essential needs. As soon as our staff are able to move freely, CHF will assemble technical teams to fully assess the situation including surveying shelter damages, psychosocial support for youth and adults, and damage to basic infrastructure including water and sanitation systems, schools, hospitals and electrical networks and to implement quick impact solutions and eventually longer term sustainable solutions.

CHF plans to provide relief in three phases:

PHASE 1: Emergency Relief Distribution: CHF continues to expand mass delivery of food and non-food emergency commodities throughout Gaza. While CHF’s ongoing and intended relief distribution activities target all vulnerable populations, special attention is being made towards host families where possible. As the situation allows and needs evolve, CHF will address existing shelter support needs for families who have sustained damage to their homes.

PHASE 2: Support to Recovery and Transition: To promote more rapid transition to recovery, CHF will focus on three primary program areas: infrastructure rehabilitation, economic recovery, and psycho-social support for youth. Staff will work with communities through rigorous needs assessment and consultation to prioritize infrastructure repairs in affected communities.

PHASE 3: Reconstruction: CHF will focus on large scale rehabilitation and reconstruction of social infrastructure to contribute to the post war rebuilding efforts and in the process generate job opportunities for the thousands of unemployed persons in Gaza coupled with critical psychosocial support to children and youth the most affected by the crisis.

Download CHF International’s Gaza Response Factsheet