Palestine Emergency Appeal
Palestinians in Gaza are being bombed and starved as Israel refuses to allow humanitarian aid or any other supplies to enter the enclave.
This total closure, in place since 2 March, comes as renewed attacks on Gaza have destroyed the fragile ceasefire.
Prior to the January ceasefire, Israel had carried out a relentless bombing campaign that flattened homes and devastated families for more than 15 months. The ceasefire enabled a significant surge in humanitarian aid, but now the situation is getting worse by the day.
More than 50,000 Palestinians have been killed – mostly women and children, including hundreds of infants – and over 114,700 injured since October 2023, with the actual figures expected to be much higher as large numbers of people remain missing.
Some 1.9 million people – 9 out of 10 people – have been displaced, often multiple times, from their homes and so-called safe zones since the violence began. Since the ceasefire collapsed, the Israeli army has once more ordered hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to leave their homes.
By tightening its blockade, Israel has caused severe shortages of food, water, medicine, and fuel, crippling every sector in Gaza, from healthcare to sewage.
Starvation has become a weapon of war, with Gaza on the brink of famine – 1 in 10 children are acutely malnourished, and people are starving to death.
The attacks have destroyed or severely damaged almost 70% of residential buildings, attacked hospitals and schools, and left areas littered with unexploded ordnance. Some 80% of commercial facilities have been destroyed, along with 68% of road networks.
Islamic Relief staff and partners in Gaza have witnessed unimaginable death and destruction that has left cities, towns and villages in ruins.
Our colleagues, many of whom are facing the same challenges as the communities they serve, continue their vital humanitarian work wherever and whenever they can.
I do not know what to tell you. I am trying to talk but I want to cry. I got the news that our house got demolished. It really affected me. I cried a little. Then, I thought thank Allah that my kids are well. They are more important than the house, the business, and everything.
Islamic Relief has been working in the Occupied Palestinian Territory since 1997, providing a lifeline to communities struggling with the devastating effects of occupation, blockade and recurring violence.
Since October 2023, we have provided over £39 million worth of aid, including over 70 million hot meals to displaced families.
We have rapidly expanded our Orphan Sponsorship Programme to reach more vulnerable families with a monthly stipend. Prior to October 2023, Islamic Relief supported 8,750 orphans in Gaza. That number has now risen to 17,600 children but thousands more are in dire need of sponsorship.
Since the closure on 2 March we have continued to distribute daily food, water and other aid, using supplies already within Gaza. But the blockade means supplies are running out.
As Palestinian families face fresh suffering in Gaza, Islamic Relief is calling on supporters to help us provide much-needed humanitarian aid.
See how Islamic Relief is distributing aid in Gaza and the impact of your generous donations over 500 days on. Your continuous support is truly a lifeline for families in Palestine.
We are calling on world leaders to urgently increase pressure on Israel to stop the attacks on civilians and allow supplies into Gaza, in accordance with international law.
International governments must work towards a just and lasting peace, by demanding an end to Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestine.
With your support, Islamic Relief will remain a lifeline for Palestinian families.
Please donate to our Palestine Emergency Appeal now.
Islamic Relief teams and local partners have remained within Gaza throughout Israel’s assault. Throughout the past 500 days, our focus has been on providing emergency relief wherever possible, as we have done during all escalations since we began working in Gaza in 1997. Now, with the temporary ceasefire fragile but continuing to hold, we continue to pray for lasting peace while preparing to support Palestinians to rebuild their shattered lives and communities.
The needs in Gaza today are huge and complex.
Our immediate priority is continuing to reach those that are most vulnerable to prevent further deaths. We will step up our emergency response efforts to increase protection for those most affected, and, when the time comes, support with repairing, rebuilding, and strengthening vital services, facilities and infrastructure.
As soon as we can, we hope to help get children back to school, get hospitals and specialist care centres back up and running, and implement other longer-term development programmes that empower communities to rebuild self-reliance in a sustainable manner. We will also continue to campaign for an end to Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestine, so there can be lasting peace.
Islamic Relief’s track record of delivering high-quality humanitarian and development interventions in Gaza spans nearly 30 years. Over the last 500 days, our teams and partners have consistently been among the first to respond to emergencies with lifesaving aid. The bonds of trust between our teams and people we serve underpin our plan to help meet the urgent needs of Palestinians pushed to the brink of survival.
Palestinians have suffered 500 days of massacre and misery. At least 48,000 people have been killed, including more than 15,000 children. Palestinians urgently need help to survive, to rebuild and to recover. Your support has never been more important.
By donating to Islamic Relief in these final blessed nights of Ramadan, you will save lives and offer hope to Palestinian people who continue to suffer from the relentless attacks.
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Adnan joined Islamic Relief in 2004 as a regional fundraiser in the UK. He worked in multiple roles over 10 years at Islamic Relief UK, including setting up the first digital team and leading the growth of digital fundraising and engagement. Adnan also led numerous fundraising and marketing campaigns, which played a significant part in the growth of Islamic Relief UK.
Having moved to Islamic Relief Worldwide in 2014, Adnan has held different roles that have helped grow Islamic Relief’s global digital footprint into new geographic territories, supporting Islamic Relief members with their digital and marketing growth as well as developing new products and initiatives for the Islamic Relief family.
Adnan graduated in Industrial Design and Technology from Loughborough University. He has since completed an Advanced Diploma in Business Administration from Durham University and a Diploma in Digital Marketing from the Institute of Data and Marketing.
Nadeem Azhar
Nadeem joined Islamic Relief Worldwide in September 2022. He has worked in the charitable sector for over a decade.
He studied Modern History and Politics at Manchester University, and at the University of Law in London before qualifying as a solicitor in 2011.
Nadeem is an experienced corporate, commercial and governance lawyer, having worked with various faith-based and grant making charities as well those in health and education settings. He was a partner at a law firm in London before moving in-house where he focused on setting up and restructuring charities and social enterprises.
Most recently, Nadeem was Lead Counsel at Mind, a leading mental health charity, where he co-authored a new federation agreement, revamped legal processes, and played a major role in developing its strategic and fundraising partnerships.
Nadeem has been a charity trustee for the Seafarers Charity, as well as many grant-making bodies and theatre companies.
Adnan Hafiz
Adnan joined Islamic Relief in 2004 as a regional fundraiser in the UK. He worked in multiple roles over 10 years at Islamic Relief UK, including setting up the first digital team and leading the growth of digital fundraising and engagement. Adnan also led numerous fundraising and marketing campaigns, which played a significant part in the growth of Islamic Relief UK.
Having moved to Islamic Relief Worldwide in 2014, Adnan has held different roles that have helped grow Islamic Relief’s global digital footprint into new geographic territories, supporting Islamic Relief members with their digital and marketing growth as well as developing new products and initiatives for the Islamic Relief family.
Adnan graduated in Industrial Design and Technology from Loughborough University. He has since completed an Advanced Diploma in Business Administration from Durham University and a Diploma in Digital Marketing from the Institute of Data and Marketing.
Martin Cottingham joined Islamic Relief in 2012 as IRUK Media Relations Manager, and was appointed Head of Communications in 2015 before taking up his current position as Director of External Relations and Advocacy for Islamic Relief Worldwide.
Martin has helped Islamic Relief to increase its mainstream media profile and expand its campaigning work, producing hard-hitting advocacy reports on floods in Pakistan (2011) famine in Somalia (2012) disaster risk reduction (2013) and aid to Afghanistan (2014). He has over 20 years’ experience working in media, communications and marketing roles for international development and environmental charities.
Martin graduated from the University of London with a degree in English and Drama (1982-85) then trained as a journalist with a postgraduate diploma at City University (1986-87). He has previously worked for Christian Aid as Editor of Christian Aid News and Media Relations Manager (1988-97) for Oxfam as Regional Campaigns Manager (1997-2000) and at the Soil Association as Marketing Director (2001-2006), as well as working for a wide range of organisations as a freelance writer, researcher and communications consultant.
Waseem Ahmad joined the Islamic Relief family over 24 years ago, serving as Programme Officer in the Balochistan province of south-western Pakistan before becoming Head of Programmes in Pakistan. Waseem then moved to Oxfam and Tearfund before returning to Islamic Relief to establish our mission in Malawi. Later serving as Head of Programme Funding and Partnerships, Waseem led the response to major crises across the globe, including the East Africa drought, Pakistan earthquake and the Indian Ocean Tsunami.
Waseem then served for nearly 6 years as our Director of International Programmes, during which time the charity secured and retained the coveted Core Humanitarian Standard certification in recognition of the quality of our programming. He was appointed CEO of Islamic Relief in May 2021.
With a special interest in community mobilisation and infrastructure, Waseem received an MSc in Project Planning and Management from the University of Bradford, as well as an MSc in Economics from Arid Agriculture University in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
Waseem has also worked for Lepra Health in Action and is a member of the International Civil Society Centre’s Board of Trustees. The father-of-3 enjoys walking and playing football, and is a keen birdwatcher.