【Gaza Crisis Urgent Appeal】 Famine is Imminent and Countless Children Suffering from Starvation are in Urgent Need of Your Help

Last update: 15/03/2024

Since 7 October 2023, the conflict between Palestine and Israel has already claimed over 100,000 lives in just half a year and 1.9 million people were forcibly displaced. 30,000 civilians were killed in the bombings, among them, over 13,000 were innocent children, taking up 40% of the total fatality rate. Escaping attacks, searching for food, and losing loved ones become part of the daily lives of children and families living in Gaza. Due to the limited humanitarian access to Gaza, a catastrophe famine is looming. If the conflicts and the humanitarian access blockage persist, it is estimated that 300,000 civilians in the North Gaza will fall into famine in May 2024, claiming more children’s lives.

Half of the Gaza Population is Estimated to Experience “Catastrophe” level of Acute Food Insecurity

According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification under the UN World Food Programme, it is estimated that half of Gaza’s two million population will fall into the “Phase 5 Catastrophe” level and a famine will soon occur.* According to the UN’s definition, a famine occurs when at least 20% of the household facing an extreme food shortage; 30% of children suffering from acute malnutrition; and two out of 10,000 people dying from starvation or malnutrition on a daily basis . Currently in Gaza, almost all households are skipping meals and adults are reducing meals for their children to have more. In the North Gaza where the situation is more alarming, 60% of the households were on empty stomachs day and night at least 10 times in the last 30 days; one in six children aged under 24 months are experiencing acute malnutrition. As of 7 March 2024, at least 20 children have died from starvation. A threatening hunger crisis is looming and more children’s lives are hanging by a thread.

Worsening Humanitarian Situation Children and Women are the Most Vulnerable

Kanie Siu, Chief Executive Officer of Plan International Hong Kong is in anguish at the suffering of children and women in Gaza, “It is heartbreaking to know many children and their families are living on empty stomachs without enough food to eat every day. Girls and women have to face the threat of sexual violence and live in great fear. Plan International continues to call for an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire; an improved, secure and unimpeded access for relief supplies so that famine can be avoided; and protection of girls and women from any forms of sexual violence.”

Famine is Imminent Your support Enables us to Continue Our Emergency Relief Works

Since December 2023, Plan International Egypt has been working with local partners and dispatched seven trucks with humanitarian aids such as food packs, first aid kits and bottled waters to Gaza, benefiting 7,200 people in need. Famine is just around the corner and there are countless of girls, women and children waiting for help. Apart from calling for a ceasefire, we are picking up speed to deliver more life-saving aids including food, clean water, hygiene items etc. to Gaza through the Rafah Border Crossing. Your support is very crucial which allows us to continue carrying out emergency relief work in Gaza, together, we could save more children and families out of danger!

Our Actions:

With donors’ support, Plan International Egypt is working around the clock, packing and sending boxes after boxes of food packs and first aid kits to Gaza. Yet, the never-ending fighting not only destroyed the futures of children, but it is also triggering a serious and deadly hunger crisis. Girls, women and children are in urgent need of your help. We hope you can offer a helping hand to save children’s lives and alleviate the worsening humanitarian conditions. With your support, we can make greater efforts in sending more life-saving aids to Gaza and scale up our relief works in Jordan and Lebanon with local partners.

Donate $500: Provide 1-week food basket for 2 households
Donate $1,200: Provide 1-week food basket for 5 households
Donation $2,000: Provide 2-week food basket for 4 households and 4 personal hygiene kits (including soaps, toothpaste, towel, hairbrush and hand sanitiser)
Donate $3,500: Provide 1-week food basket and 5 dignity kits for 15 households
Donate $5,000: Provide 1-week food basket 12 personal hygiene kits (including soaps, toothpaste, towel, hairbrush and hand sanitiser) and 12 safe water kits (including water purifying tablets, Oral Rehydration Salt, buckets and cups) for 12 households

Donation Methods:

1.Online Donation:

ONE-OFF DONATION Daily HK$2 Support Plan With Children

2. Bank Transfer*
Please make a direct deposit into HSBC account #640-068318-838.

3. Crossed Cheque*
Please make a cheque payable to Plan International Hong Kong Limited.

4. Cash Donation via Circle K, VanGO or U Select*
Please visit any Circle K, VanGO or U Select in Hong Kong and present the barcode to make a cash donation*. (Each transaction cannot exceed HK$5,000.)

5. PayMe Donation

Please scan the QR code below to donate and enter your information (English name, telephone number and email address) and state “24UNID001 – GHCA” in PayMe message box.

*Please send the original bank receipt/ crossed cheque/ Circle K, VanGO or U Select original receipt/ a screenshot of the mobile donation transaction details together with your name, telephone number and email address to Plan International Hong Kong by mail or email. Please mark “24UNID001 – GHCA”. (Email: [email protected] Address: 21/F, 9 Chong Yip Street, Kwun Tong, Hong Kong)

Disclaimer:
Plan International is independent, with no religious, political or governmental affiliations. Please note that any donations received that exceed what is required to support this emergency will be directed to other areas with the greatest humanitarian needs, helping more children facing global crises and conflicts.

* https://www.ipcinfo.org/ipcinfo-website/alerts-archive/issue-97/en/

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