“There is nothing left standing” in Gaza… Life expectancy halved

In an interview with Reuters, President Donald Trump’s Special Envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, declared that “There is nothing left standing. Many unexploded ordnances. It is not safe to walk there. It is very dangerous. I wouldn’t have known this without going there and inspecting”.

What is beyond doubt, however, as can be observed from the incredible scenes of Palestinian people returning to their devastated homes in North Gaza, is the Palestinian people’s determination and love for their land, no matter what the conditions are.

According to the UN, at least 1.9 million people – or about 90 per cent of the population – across the Gaza Strip are displaced. Many have been displaced repeatedly, some 10 times or more. Between 7 October 2023 and 22 January 2025, according to the Ministry of Health (MoH) in Gaza and as stated by OCHA, at least 47,161 Palestinians have reportedly been killed in Gaza and 111,166 have been injured. As a result, The Lancet reports that life expectancy in Gaza has dropped from 75.5 years to 40.5 years. In terms of need, OCHA’s list includes 92% of the 2.3 million population suffering from severe food insecurity, 92% of housing units destroyed or damaged, and with almost the entire school-aged population left without access to education.

Under trying circumstances, Qatar Charity is mobilising and supporting.

International humanitarian organisations, like Qatar Charity, which often represent the most critical lifeline for communities traumatised by war, have also been at the receiving end in this conflict. Even the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), which represents the backbone of Palestinian humanitarian aid, was ordered by Israel to cease operations by Thursday, 2 January 2025. The biggest obstacle that aid organisations face when it comes to Gaza is one of access. Without UNRWA, access becomes even harder.

It must also be said however that humanitarians, by nature, never give up hope. They can’t afford to, otherwise millions starve to death or die from disease and other causes.

To take Qatar Charity as an example, since the war broke out on 7 October 2023, more than 188 million Qatari Riyal (equivalent to £41 million) worth of aid has been provided to the Palestinian people, focusing mainly on food security, shelter and health. This might be a drop in the ocean of need, but it demonstrates perseverance and solidarity in the most trying of circumstances. Since the announcement of the ceasefire on 19 January, Qatar Charity, in collaboration with other partners, such as UNOCHA and the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organisation, has ramped up its effort to respond to the catastrophic conditions faced by Palestinians in Gaza. These include:

• The first batch of humanitarian aid as part of the Qatari land-bridge consisted of 80 trucks carrying many provisions, including 20,000 tents for families whose homes have been destroyed.
• In the last couple of days, more urgent medical supplies have been airlifted with the help of the Jordanian Air Force and the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization, to the Khan Younis area in the middle of Gaza.
• ‘Lebbeh Gaza’ fundraising campaign – launched in the middle of the conflict in the mid-2024, is continuing. The original campaign aimed at raising over 188 million Qatari Riyal, not knowing how long the war will last, is now likely to be escalated given the scale of devastation and suffering over 15-months of catastrophic campaign that has impacted the entire Palestinian population in Gaza.

In Qatar Charity’s experience, among the main challenges faced are the unpredictability of the political and military situation, the lack of safety and security for aid workers, the limited supply of fuel for vehicles transporting aid, as well as difficulties in contacting and reaching those in need due to the destruction inflicted on the transport and communication infrastructure.

Such dire conditions, with ‘nothing left standing’, with the main aid agency UNRWA fighting for survival, and the daily needs of the 2.3 million people for shelter, health, education and employment facilities are a daunting task. Qatar Charity and other aid organisations have demonstrated their willingness to play their part, but we can only do so if political barriers are removed from our path, starting with allowing UNRWA to function unhindered, with full and safe access to all parts of Gaza guaranteed for all humanitarian organisations.