As a ceasefire in Gaza takes effect, Direct Relief is resuming on a stepped-up basis the delivery of essential medications and medical supplies to mitigate the escalating humanitarian crisis affecting civilian populations in the region.
Direct Relief has prepared a 100-pallet shipment of humanitarian medical aid to depart its California distribution center next week, reaching Gaza via Jordan and Egypt.
This outbreak of war following the October 7 attack by Hamas caused a spike in humanitarian health needs and near complete shutdown of humanitarian health assistance to Gaza that Direct Relief has furnished for over a decade – all of which has flowed through Israel in the previously approved channel of assistance that has been overseen and approved by Israeli authorities.
The pending delivery containing 14 tons of requested basic health commodities valued $3.6 million will be consigned to Anera and is the result of weeks of ongoing consultation and coordination with various national governments, international agencies, and on-the-ground organizations, underscoring the commitment of Direct Relief to provide timely and critical support to people in need. These efforts are made possible by Direct Relief’s supporters, which include a recent $1 million investment from the Walmart Foundation.
Anera, a key regional partner of Direct Relief, is a US-based nonprofit with a longstanding, robust presence and record of providing humanitarian assistance in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, and Lebanon.
Direct Relief also is assembling additional follow-up support for individuals with diabetes and other chronic conditions who have been unable to obtain needed medications.
Subsequent shipments will include these specialized supplies and will be conducted in accordance with U.S. sanctions laws and with necessary approvals from Israeli and Egyptian authorities.
This initiative follows a $100,000 emergency operating grant issued last month by Direct Relief to Anera to support the organization’s ongoing humanitarian work in Gaza and is part of Direct Relief’s decade-long commitment that has exceeded $100 million in medical essentials to address health needs among residents of the Palestinian territories.
These efforts follow Direct Relief’s recent provision of over $1 million in humanitarian aid to Israel in response to the deadly attacks by Hamas on October 7 and continue its apolitical mission to offer lifesaving support to communities affected by conflict and crisis, regardless of politics or religion.
