The humanitarian situation in the Middle East has worsened dramatically over the past year. Thousands of people are fleeing the ongoing conflicts and the plight of the civilian population in the affected regions is growing daily. We have found different ways to support people in Gaza, Egypt and Lebanon and provide vital aid.
Support for Gaza: A commitment to survival
The Gaza Strip is currently the worst affected region in the Middle East. The catastrophic living conditions are worsening every day that the situation persists and diseases are spreading rapidly due to a lack of hygiene and medical care. The most vulnerable groups in particular – the elderly, children, pregnant women and the sick – are in the greatest need. 1.7 million Palestinians are currently on the run, including almost 900,000 children, according to UNWRA estimates.
In the midst of this humanitarian catastrophe, STELP is supporting the work of the German NGO CADUS e. V., which is the only German aid organisation working directly in the Gaza Strip. The CADUS medical team, which works under the coordination of the WHO, is treating the civilian population and providing essential aid to save lives. Since February, we have been financially supporting various CADUS missions to ensure that people in Gaza have access to urgently needed medical care. Because in a region where many people are dying of chronic diseases as well as war dead, any support can make the difference between life and death.
Help for Palestinian refugees in Egypt
Some Palestinians have made it to Egypt from the Gaza Strip – some before 7 October 2023, others only after the conflict between Israel and Hamas began to escalate. Egypt has become a place of refuge for the refugees, who often only have with them what they were able to save during their flight. But the conditions here are also extremely difficult. Many are stranded and have hardly any access to the most basic necessities.
Our Supporter on Site Jad, who normally works for us in Lebanon, has supported the refugees on several missions directly on the Egyptian border over the past few months. Together with him, we have ensured that the people on the run have been provided with vital supplies such as food parcels and medical care. We have also given people access to the internet so that they can reach their relatives in the Gaza Strip and stay in touch.
Lebanon: Emergency aid in an escalating crisis
The situation in Lebanon has worsened massively in recent weeks. The fighting between Israel and Hezbollah has forced thousands of people to flee. Around 1 million people are currently seeking shelter, mainly in the northern regions of the country. Community centres such as schools have been temporarily converted into emergency shelters, but there is a shortage of almost everything: food, water, mattresses and hygiene products.
Together with Jad, who is now back in Lebanon, we were able to respond to this escalation at an early stage. STELP founder Serkan Eren was already on site in August when tensions began to rise and was able to pack around 300 food parcels together with Jad, which are now being distributed in the Beirut region. With our support, Jad is now also coordinating the procurement and distribution of other relief supplies such as food, mattresses, water and hygiene products to the affected population.
In Lebanon, we are also supporting a medical centre in the small village of Mjaydel. In view of the catastrophic situation, a team from the centre has set up a mobile clinic. The clinic is now travelling from one emergency shelter to the next to provide medical care to sick and injured people and educate them about hygiene measures to prevent illness.
Your support counts
The humanitarian crises in the Middle East demand our full commitment. Thanks to your donations, we can help directly on the ground and alleviate people’s suffering. However, the situation remains critical and we are still dependent on your support in order to continue our projects. Every donation counts and helps us to ensure the survival of people in the Middle East.
