Distribution of Fresh Food Parcels in Gaza, Ramadan 2023

Supplying packages of fresh locally sourced produce to vulnerable Palestinian families across Gaza.

Gaza is on ‘life support’ with 80% of the population dependent on humanitarian assistance.

Three out of four Gazans rely on emergency food assistance.^[1]Many households in Gaza spend a substantial portion of their income trying to meet their basic daily food needs yet still do not have enough to eat. During the Holy Month of Ramadan, these families are unable to celebrate and break their fast with nutritious meals. This project focussed on marginalised and underserved areas across Gaza in order to help some of the most vulnerable Palestinian families. These families were provided with weekly food parcels (each week for the 5 weeks of Ramadan), enabling them to prepare healthy meals and celebrate Ramadan with dignity. This support helps families to reallocate their funds put aside for food to other essential items they may need, such as medicine, school fees, or utility bills.

Facts

Parcels were provided to families once per-week throughout Ramadan. Across the month 1,629 families received 6,414 fresh food parcels

In all, 1,629 families received parcels of fresh and healthy produce sourced from small-scale farmers and producers in their communities. A diverse range of freshly harvested, high-quality vegetables, herbs, and fruit were packed into the parcels each week – along with a source of protein such as chicken or eggs, enabling families to prepare balanced meals throughout the week. In the week of Eid, goods from local women’s cooperatives were also included to the parcels, i.e. Eid cookies as well as maftoul (Palestinian couscous).

An example of a parcel’s contents on Week 2 (31.3.2023) is as follows:

2 Chickens
30 Eggs
3 KG Oranges
3 KG Lemons
3 KG Cucumbers
1 KG Green Peppers
3 KG Tomatoes
¼ KG Mint
2 KG Moloheya (spinach)
3 KG Onions
½ KG Parsley
3 KG Potatoes
2 x Red Cabbages
2 x White Cabbages

The project also benefitted local farmers and women’s co-operatives in these communities. In total, 226 farmers and women’s producers across Gaza helped to supply the parcels’ contents, allowing them to ensure their produce was sold for a fair price. This income allowed farmers not only to support themselves, but to prepare for the next growing season.

Within six women’s cooperatives that prepared the Eid cookies and maftoul, 64 women benefitted from an income. Local unemployed workers also found relief via a source of temporary income during the project. They were employed to help weigh, package, and distribute the parcels at the packing stations. Across the stations, 24 workers secured an income for a total of 357 paid working days, helping to provide for their families during Ramadan.