Hunger & Desperation Deepen
Dear Brothers & Sisters in Christ,
As we approach the second year since the war in Gaza began, the situation has only grown more desperate. What once felt unimaginable has become daily reality for millions, an unrelenting crisis marked by hunger, displacement, and grief.
Official figures report that at least 170 people, including 93 children, have died from starvation and malnutrition since October 2023. But this is only a glimpse of the truth. Broader assessments suggest that of the people who may have died from starvation-related causes, including those indirectly lost to the collapse of care and support systems, could be much higher.
Even the search for food has become deadly.
Between May and July alone, more than 1,200 civilians were killed while trying to access food. Some were shot near distribution sites. Others died along aid convoy routes. Among them was a neighbor’s relative, who went out in search of food for his six children. He never returned. Another family member was later killed in the north, possibly while trying to check on his apartment or seeking food again. In Gaza, even ordinary actions can turn fatal.
Just this week, one of our leaders shared a heartbreaking story he received from a young man he is discipling. This believer had gone with his 32-year-old cousin to a food distribution site. Only one of them came back. The cousin was shot in the neck and died on the spot.
These are not just statistics. These are fathers and mothers, sons and daughters, lives full of faith, love, and resilience. Their stories matter. Their dignity must not be erased.
The Water Crisis
Today, 90% of Gaza’s population lacks access to clean drinking water. Most families survive on less than three liters per day, far below what is needed to stay healthy. The main aquifer is nearly unusable, and public sanitation has collapsed. Raw sewage runs through crowded streets. Toilets are broken. In the shelters, many girls cannot access basic hygiene and bathroom facilities.
The UN has called it a total collapse of public health. UNICEF warns: “This is not just a water crisis. It’s a child survival crisis.”
What Daily Life Now Looks Like
Each morning, displaced families divide their efforts:
One person searches for food. Another looks for water. Someone else goes for firewood. Others try to find bathrooms, supplies, or news of aid. Entire days are spent trying to meet the most basic needs. Most aid that does arrive is stolen or intercepted before it can reach the people who need it most.
One young man explained that he receives flour from a friend, but only when that friend returns alive. He had given his friend his only pair of tennis shoes, since the friend was barefoot. In return, every time the friend makes it back safely from an aid run, he brings back two kilos of flour. This simple act of trust and solidarity carries unimaginable risk.
Update on the Wounded in Our Community
As many of you prayed with us following the recent attack on the Church compound, we’re grateful to report:
• Shadi Abu Dawood’s son is receiving treatment in Israel and is improving (mother & son pictured below after the attack).
• The other nine wounded are stable. We thank God for this.
We remain committed to standing with the Christian community and the most vulnerable in Gaza. Through your support, we continue providing food, water, clothing, and other necessities, even in the darkest of days.
We were recently able to feed 2000 people in Gaza and reach those who are in desperate need. Click below to view the distribution efforts.
Every meal distributed, every child fed, and every family comforted is only possible because of your faithful partnership. Your prayers, your advocacy, and your giving allow this ministry to remain a lifeline in a time of crisis.
As always, we love hearing from you. Please continue to keep Gaza in your prayers, and know that you are in ours.
In the News: Christians in Gaza Feed Thousands in Crisis Across Ethnic & Faith Lines
Blessings,
Pastor Hanna Massad
Founder & President
