Gaza and Afghanistan

Over the last two weeks we’ve witnessed unimaginable heartbreak.

More than 1,000 people have died and many more are missing in Western Afghanistan after three earthquakes devastated the region, reducing entire communities to rubble. And we’ve all watched on in horror at the scenes unfolding in Gaza.

Here’s how you can help.

Gaza

	Above: A young boy looks on at the rubble of destroyed and badly damaged homes in Shijaia, Gaza City. Shijaia neighbourhood was badly hit during the 2014 war and is where an NECC clinic is located to serve the local community. Richard Wainwright/Act for Peace

The scenes unfolding in Gaza and Israel are nothing short of harrowing.

On Saturday 7th October, Hamas militants launched a surprise attack, crossing from Gaza into Israel, attacking civilians, and taking hostages. Israel responded by striking Gaza from sea and air.

Since then, tensions have only intensified and right now more than 2 million Palestinian people civilians are trapped on a strip of land that is blocked by land and sea. Their water, fuel and medical supplies are running out. Gas and electricity were cut off days ago.

Act for Peace’s local partner on the ground, The Near East Council of Churches Gaza (NECC), runs three health clinics in Gaza.  Clinic staff have stayed behind to continue to provide medical care to those Palestinians who can’t evacuate – including children, the elderly and pregnant women. 

Communication with our partner is patchy, but at last reports they were living under non-stop bombardment and air strikes.

When Act for Peace last heard from Lubna, the Head of NECC’s Health Department, she said, 

“The situation is very awful and scary. Hospitals are over flooded with death and injured people. Medical teams are helpless. The death toll among civilians increases dramatically most of them are women, children, and elders. Gaza is becoming a big grave.”

Please keep Lubna, our partners, and the people of Gaza in your thoughts and prayers and give a gift today to help support families in urgent need.  

HELP NOW - actforpeace.org.au/gaza-emergency   

Afghanistan

	Above: Afghan’s comb through the rubble in the aftermath of a devastating 6.3 magnitude earthquake in Herat, Afghanistan.  MUHAMMAD BALABULUKI/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images

On October 7th, 2023, a 6.3 magnitude earthquake hit Western Afghanistan, the deadliest earthquake to hit the country in two decades. Two more earthquakes have followed since, further decimating the region.

Since the first earthquake struck on October 7, there has been over 1,000 deaths with many more injured or missing. There has been major structural damage, and entire houses, which were too fragile to withstand the quake, have been reduced to rubble.

Act for Peace’s local partner are providing urgently needed items including food, hygiene and dignity kits, blankets, clothes, and materials to assist with repairing homes. With winter just around the corner, these are particularly crucial.

Please give today to help the people of Afghanistan affected by this devastating disaster.

HELP NOW - actforpeace.org.au/afghanistan-earthquake-emergency