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What we do in Gaza
Attacks in Gaza continue despite the ceasefire. Far too little humanitarian aid is getting in, and the needs remain immense. Yet every day, we continue to help.
Needs are still immense in Gaza. Through our local partners and staff, NCA is able to deliver in Gaza. Photo: NCA
The situation in Gaza remains a humanitarian catastrophe. More than six months after a ceasefire was announced, everyday life for ordinary families in Gaza is still marked by insecurity, hunger, and a lack of basic necessities.
Despite this, Norwegian Church Aid continues to operate in Gaza. We work through our local Palestinian partners and staff, who are on the ground every single day.
Despite extremely challenging conditions, Norwegian Church Aid has managed to maintain its operations throughout the blockade of humanitarian aid. This work would not be possible without our close cooperation with local partner organizations, volunteers, and the support of the public.
“Every day, we fight to keep hope alive in the midst of this harsh reality. We work under bombardment and with very limited resources. Many families have lost everything. We know that our work is still making a difference. The support we receive from people in Norway reminds us that we are not alone,” says Christian Cramon, Country Director for Norwegian Church Aid in Palestine.
What we do in Gaza now
Here are some of the areas we are currently working on:
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene
Water: We deliver clean water by large tanker trucks to tent camps, ensuring that families have access to safe drinking water and can avoid waterborne diseases. We also maintain water facilities, including those serving healthcare institutions. This is critical for patient care and treatment.
Sewage: We empty and repair overloaded toilets and sewage systems in the camps, preventing contaminated water from flowing freely into surrounding areas. This reduces the risk of disease and makes sanitation facilities usable again.
Waste Management and Pest Control: We provide daily waste collection and disposal services in some of the most vulnerable areas. This directly helps combat rats and insects that would otherwise spread disease throughout the camps. We also distribute hygiene kits and conduct awareness campaigns on how parents can protect their children.
Food Security and Support for Local Agriculture
Agriculture in Gaza has largely collapsed. Only a very small portion of arable land remains accessible and undamaged, while most greenhouses, wells, and vegetable gardens have been destroyed. For this reason, we support local farmers and families in restarting a minimum level of food production.
Together with our partners, we provide seeds, seedlings, and farming tools to farmers who can grow and sell vegetables in local markets. We also support families in growing vegetables in gardens and on rooftops within the camps. This helps people with the greatest needs to access nutritious food while giving families a measure of control over their own lives again.
Cash assistance
Support for Families: We provide cash assistance to the most vulnerable families, allowing them to buy what they need most. When available, the money is often used to purchase food and medicine.
Support for Volunteers: We also provide cash grants to volunteer groups within local communities, enabling them to identify and address the most urgent needs themselves. This is both an effective and dignified way of delivering humanitarian assistance.
Supporting Women's Livelihoods
In Gaza, we support women who run small businesses or are trying to rebuild them after losing everything. Through start-up capital, training, and mentoring, they are able to continue their work and generate income. This support is vital both for the women themselves and for their families.
Protection and Psychosocial Support
Many families in Gaza, especially children, women, and people with disabilities, are living in extremely vulnerable circumstances after years of conflict. Protection is therefore a core part of our response.
Psychological First Aid and Therapy: Together with our partners, we provide psychosocial support to people who have lost family members, homes, and livelihoods. This may include individual counselling, group support, or psychological first aid.
Protection from Gender-Based Violence and Support for Survivors: We assist women and girls who have experienced violence and work to prevent abuse in densely populated camps.
Explosive Hazard Awareness: Bomb fragments and unexploded ordnance are scattered throughout the rubble and can detonate at any time. We therefore educate both children and adults on how to avoid accidents and stay safe.
Community-Based Protection: We help establish and train local groups that monitor risks, assist neighbours in need, and strengthen community solidarity within their areas.
The situation in Gaza now
- Israel has expanded its control over the Gaza Strip, and almost the entire population has been concentrated into a small area. Only a very limited number of humanitarian aid and commercial vehicles are permitted to enter each day. At the same time, most international organizations face significant restrictions on bringing in aid supplies and personnel.
- Most families continue to live in overcrowded tents, temporary shelters, schools, or heavily damaged buildings. Queues for food and water are long. Fuel shortages mean that water stations, sewage systems, hospital generators, and transportation services are unable to function properly.
- For the vast majority of families, livelihoods have collapsed. Shops lack essential goods, prices remain extremely high, and most people are now entirely dependent on humanitarian assistance to survive. At the same time, the threat of continued airstrikes, unexploded ordnance in the rubble, and hunger has become part of daily life.
- The needs are enormous across every sector: food, water, sanitation, shelter, healthcare, education, and protection. There is also a growing need to help families rebuild some sense of normality and dignity, for example through repairing homes, restoring water supplies, and creating opportunities to earn an income.
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