On the evening of 17 March, the Israeli military broke ceasefire and launched airstrikes against terror group Hamas in Gaza. According to reports, the attack killed more than 400 people, including civilian women and children, injured over 500 people, and forced an estimated 65,000 people to evacuate their homes and shelters.
This occurred after a two-week humanitarian aid blockage to the region and exacerbates an already challenging situation. Food shortages are now at catastrophic levels, and healthcare services are overwhelmed as they struggle to treat those impacted from the recent attack while meeting people’s existing health needs.
Our local Christian Partners are providing lifesaving medicines and medical supplies so families can meet their needs in such difficult circumstances, but medical supplies remain in short supply, with 50 percent of essential medicines unavailable.
Please support this crucial work and give to our Middle East Crisis Appeal below.
Our hearts ache as we watch the terror and violence unfolding in the Middle East. With our Baptist family across the world, we mourn the catastrophic loss of life and look to our God of peace who is always at work through his people.
This latest conflict, beginning with the unprecedented terrorist attack on innocent civilians by militant extremists, Hamas, on 7 October 2023, which killed 1,139 Israelis. Heavy bombardment of Gaza by Israeli forces in response, has since led to the deaths of over 49,000 people in the region, with more than 112,000 injured.
Today, about 90 per cent of the population are experiencing acute food insecurity, as families have exhausted their food and water supplies. At least 1.9 million people are displaced and in desperate need of safety and urgent humanitarian support.
Your donation will enable our Christian Partners to provide urgent assistance to civilians affected by this conflict.
Medical infrastructure has been irreparably damaged in Gaza, and healthcare workers are struggling to provide necessary lifesaving healthcare due to shortage of supplies and medicine.
OUR RESPONSE:
In partnership with a highly trusted, Christian Partner who has spent decades serving in this region, we are responding where the need is greatest. This often includes pregnant women, children, and people with disabilities within Gaza, and the West Bank. We’re also supporting the work of our Christian Partners in the wider region caring for displaced people in search of safety.
YOUR GIFT WILL:
- Help deliver much-needed medicines, medical supplies and equipment to local clinics, hospitals, and to healthcare workers providing essential services in Gaza and the West Bank, such as treating malnutrition in children.
- Help establish and maintain mobile health clinics our Partners have already setup to address the non-functioning hospitals and medical centres.
- Help our Partners in Lebanon provide emergency food packages, mattresses, blankets, feminine products and diapers to displaced families in need.
- Assist our Partners as they prepare shipments of medical aid while exploring safe options for delivery and distribution to where the need is greatest.
Pictured: Collapsed buildings in the Middle East conflict. Photo credit: Ibrahim Zaanoun.
