Women face particular vulnerabilities during emergencies. From the lack of access to menstrual hygiene products and safe shelter to the increased risk of gender-based violence, their needs are often overlooked. But the despite the challenges, ActionAid’s team in Palestine and our partners in Gaza are working hard to deliver assistance to people in need.
How we’re getting aid in
The border crossings into Gaza remain largely closed, and even during brief openings, access is extremely limited and unpredictable. On rare occasions, a small number of goods have been brought in through UN or ICRC-facilitated convoys, but this is the exception, not the norm.
Under normal circumstances, our partners would look to Egypt or the West Bank to source food and other relief items. But due to the aid blockade, ActionAid and our partners are not able to bring in supplies from outside Gaza. So we’ve been relying on working with our local partners in Gaza to get people the assistance they need.
Right now, all relief items are currently sourced locally within Gaza, including vegetables, hygiene items, and clothing. Essential goods like soap, sanitary pads and clothes are sourced locally from wholesalers and remaining suppliers in areas like Gaza City, Khan Younis, and Deir al-Balah. But as the days go on, goods are becoming more limited, prices are rising sharply, and quality is often poor due to depleted market stocks.
Relief during the aid blockade
Despite the huge challenges, in June 2025 alone, ActionAid supported more than 5,000 Palestinian women and their families with:
- Hot meals and food parcels
- Hygiene and dignity kits
- Essential clothing items
- Shelter supplies
- Protection services and psychosocial support
In addition to delivering this much needed aid, we are advocating for increased humanitarian relief to be allowed into Gaza to meet the demands of two million people on the brink of famine.
How you can help
What is happening in Gaza is not just one of the most urgent humanitarian emergencies in the world right now, it is a genocide. While the world and media looks away, the people of Gaza are being deliberately and systematically destroyed. Starvation is being used as a weapon of war. Now more than ever, the people of Gaza need our solidarity. Please consider donating to our Gaza Crisis Appeal or adding your name to our letter to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, asking him to act now for Gaza.