Christian Aid partners distribute food to vulnerable families in Gaza

Christian Aid is sending emergency funds to its partner organisations in Gaza to help them respond to the humanitarian crisis.

The Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committees (PARC) plans to distribute emergency food baskets to the most vulnerable families in Gaza. It will buy the bulk of the food from local farmers and women cooperatives. PARC has experience in implementing similar programmes during previous emergency situations.

The PARC headquarters in Zeitun took a direct hit and were then used as an Israeli military post. All its computers and furniture were destroyed.

In addition, all the PARC greenhouses, trees, plants, water sources and agricultural facilities were bulldozed. It is now working from a rented apartment in Gaza City.

The Culture and Free Thought Association has received £30,000 to provide emergency food to 200 displaced families in Khan Younis. They will also receive flooring carpet and blankets.

The Palestinian Medical Relief Society is providing emergency healthcare and 24-hour medical and ambulance services.

The Near East Council of Churches (NECC) has re-opened its clinics in Daraj and Rafah. The NECC clinic in Sujaya has been completely destroyed.

"We need the international community to do all it can to ensure the ceasefire holds," says a spokesperson from NECC. "People in Gaza are tired of violence.

"Many houses have been destroyed, families have lost loved ones, industry and farming is devastated; people are in a miserable state now.

"People are not sure that the ceasefire will continue. They are afraid that it will be broken and we will return back to the war and the destruction."