IMI Humanitarian Crises 2023 Fund

“Gaza is being strangled and it seems that the world right now has lost its humanity. If we look at the issue of water – we all know water is life – Gaza is running out of water, and Gaza is running out of life.”

-- Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner General of the UNRWA (the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East)

IMI extends its deepest condolences to impacted families and our global community on the tremendous loss of civilian life in the Middle East. We are gravely concerned with the escalation of violence, the indiscriminate military attacks against civilians, the destruction of health facilities, the indiscriminate military attacks against civilians, and the dehumanization of the people of Palestine.

There is an “unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe unfolding now in Gaza.”

-- Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner General of the UNRWA 

In October, Israeli officials ordered a “complete siege” of Gaza---cutting off essential services and supplies including electricity, water, food and fuel. There are verified reports of deaths of health care workers and destruction of health facilities in Gaza. The number of those killed (currently estimated at 4000) is increasing to such a point that the UN relief and works agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) has shared: “there are not enough body-bags for the dead in Gaza.”

World Health Organization (WHO) warned Gaza faces an imminent public health crisis as the Palestinian enclave is “running out of water” and the lives of more than 3,500 patients in 35 hospitals in Gaza are at immediate risk. There are also verified reports of deaths of health care workers and destruction of health facilities in Gaza. 

The World Health Organization has documented 111 attacks on health care in the occupied Palestinian territory since 7 October.

It’s really about the loss of our humanity if the international community allows this to continue. What we are seeing now is simply inhumane.”

-- Lynn Hastings, the United Nations Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory

We cannot ignore this catastrophe.

April 4, 2024 Update: 

According the the IPC FRC report released March 18, all evidence points towards a major acceleration of death and malnutrition with 1.1 million people (half of Gaza) are expected to face catastrophic famine unless there is a significant and immediate increase in the provision of food. In March the ICJ noted that “Palestinians in Gaza are no longer facing only a risk of famine, as noted in the Order of 26 January 2024, but that famine is setting in, with at least 31 people, including 27 children, having already died of malnutrition and dehydration according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)”

The World Health Organization continues to raise the alarm on the long-term and immediate health consequences of this imminent famine, noting that right now children are dying from the combined effects of malnutrition and disease. Almost all households are already skipping meals daily with adults reducing their meals further so children can eat. Many have taken to boiling weeds and eating animal feed to stave off hunger in any way they can. The health and wellbeing of an entire future generation are being compromised not just by the unimaginable mental trauma but also by malnutrition and low consumption of nutrient-rich foods, repeated infections, and lack of hygiene and sanitation--all factors slowing children's overall growth and development.

Hospitals are being transformed into battlegrounds when they should be sanctuaries. There are verified reports of deaths of health care workers and destruction of health facilities in Gaza.

Health services in northern Gaza have been largely destroyed and the healthcare system in southern Gaza is on the brink of collapse. As of March 26, the Al-Amal Hospital and the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) headquarters in Khan Yunis has ceased functioning as well.  

January 25, 2024 Update: 

According to the UNRWA Situation Report #69, as of 22 January, up to 1.7 million people (over 75 per cent of the population) have been displaced across the Gaza Strip, some multiple times as families are forced to move repeatedly in search of safety. 

According to UN OCHA's Flash Update #102:

• Between 7 October 2023 and 12:00 on 25 January 2024, at least 25,900 Palestinians were killed in Gaza and 64,110 Palestinians were injured, according to the MoH.
• As of 25 January, according to the WHO, there are 14 partially functional hospitals out of 36 in all of Gaza; seven in the north and seven in the south.
• According to the MoH in Gaza, there is a shortage of available hospital beds, as occupancy rates in these hospitals are reaching 206 per cent in inpatient departments and 250 per cent in intensive care units.

How you can help:

Please donate today. The most urgent need continues to be for supplies not personnel at this time.

We have been advised not to send volunteers at present. Medications and supplies are urgently needed rather than manpower. There will certainly be a huge need, especially for plastic and orthopaedic assistance when the fighting ends, but for the immediate, please donate below today.  

IMI is also accepting applications of interest from those who would want to join the future humanitarian delegation to provide medical relief in Gaza. Please visit this page to sign up and indicate your interest to join the team. 

December 4, 2023 Update:

According to the UN OCHA Flash Update #57 released on December 3, between 7 October and 19 November, over 12,700 fatalities were reported by the Gaza Ministry of Health (MoH), which then stopped reporting directly due to the collapse of many hospitals. Since then, the Gaza Government Media Office (GMO) reported more than 2,300 additional fatalities, bringing the cumulative toll to over 15,000 by 2 December, including 6,150 children and more than 4,000 women.

In addition the OCHA Flash Update shares that the fatality toll since 7 October and until the resumption of hostilities includes at least 198 Palestinian medics, according to the Gaza MoH; 112 UN staff; 73 journalists and media workers, according to the Palestinian Journalist Syndicate; and at least 15 Civil Defense staff, according to the Palestinian Civil Defense.

Imamia Medics International, along with its longtime collaborating entity, - The Lady Fatemah Trust that has worked in Gaza with the community of deaf children since 2008 and we have more recently supported the first convoy of medical assistance to reach Gaza since the October 7 - through the Rafah crossing. All nine trucks in the convoy carrying medicines worth $1,300,000 have reached Khan Younis safely.

But with the hostility seeing no end, the extreme humanitarian emergency in Gaza needs critical support. Gaza Hospitals urgently need medicines and disposables for operating theatres and traumatic injuries. We intend to deliver these supplies to Nasser Hospital in Southern Gaza, European Gaza Hospital in Khan Younis - Shuhada Al-Aqsa Hospital in the Middle Area, and Abu Yousef Al-Najjar Hospital in Rafah. *

We have allocated US $500,000 for this cause and would be grateful to you, your organization or your Foundation for any support possible.

The suffering for the displaced and injured in increasing by the minute, our brothers and sisters in Gaza need our URGENT support.

This is the time to open our Hearts. Every dollar counts. Please donate now.

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