The conflict between Israel and Hamas has created a tragic and volatile situation for the civilian population of Gaza. More than ¾ of the population of 2.2 million has been displaced with 1 million+  crammed into Rafah - a tiny sliver of land with a population that is now five times larger than it was before the war (Source: UNFPA). Much of the territory is in ruins. Lack of access to water and sanitation is posing a serious health threat. The health system is nearly collapsing and hospitals are completely overwhelmed. Over 32,000 have been reported killed and nearly 75,000 injured – most of them women and children.

The entire population is affected by hunger and living through what U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken described as "severe levels of acute food insecurity." According to the World Health Organization, famine in Gaza is imminent: “The situation in Gaza is catastrophic, with northern Gaza facing imminent famine and the rest of the Strip at risk as well…Over a million people are expected to face catastrophic hunger unless significantly more food is allowed to enter Gaza." (Source: WHO Statement, March 18, 2024)

The rapidly evolving nature of the situation on the ground requires a responsive and agile response. Funds raised are being used by Myriad Canada to implement  urgent humanitarian relief projects with the help of our trusted, long-time partner World Central Kitchen, by swiftly responding to the most pressing needs on the ground.

World Central Kitchen has been on the ground since the first days of this conflict. All current efforts are now focused on Gaza, where their exceptionally innovative Procurement and Logistics team in Cairo, Egypt is working diligently to fuel this monumental and continuous supply chain of humanitarian aid into Gaza:

• More than 39 million meals have been served;
• Over 1,400 trucks have been dispatched across the Rafah Crossing, filled with food, water, fuel, kitchen equipment, mattresses, and blankets—an equivalent of over 16 million pounds of food;
• More than 60 community kitchens were opened across Gaza;
• Opened a field kitchen in Rafah, which prepares over 40,000 meals per day;
• Delivered 500 pallets of humanitarian aid into Northern Gaza in their first ever airdrop, in collaboration with the Jordanian Royal Air Force and the Royal Netherlands Air Force (watch video footage and here);
• Working to provide an additional 4.7 million meals during Ramadan by providing nearly 100,000 food kits – each containing 51 meals;
• Through Operation Safeena, almost 200 tons of food were delivered by boat to communities in northern Gaza in WCK’s first maritime aid shipment. WCK founder José Andras hopes to eventually provide “huge quantities of food daily into the shores of Gaza” (watch video footage and here)