Newsletter from Gaza- August 25

I hope you are having a good summer. 

Perhaps you are on summer holidays, enjoying the beach, or cherishing the companionship of friends. It’s important to have time to recharge and nurture our energy and joy in life. 

Unfortunately, all of us are exposed to a level of violence in the world that is unhealthy for us. Even if we “only” watch what’s going on, it still leaves an imprint on us, and can cause helplessness, despair, and suffering.

What helps me in my despair about the state of the world is the daily conversation with 6 wonderful, inspiring, young people in Gaza. All of them experience the suffering during this 2-year-long war, the fear as bombs and Quadricops (drones) are around them most of the days and nights, and the displacement that destroyed their lives and livelihoods. Our conversations are often simple. From “how are you- just checking in” to “what is going on, I heard bad things in the news”. 

When I am not reachable for several hours, I receive messages to check in if I am ok. This is heartwarming. In all of these horrific circumstances, they have the heart to care for me, too. 

Last month, we were able to gather total donations of 1360 euros (1580 USD).

Thank you all so much for your support!

The money reached its purpose and helped the LifeLine Pharmacy and several of the friends in Gaza (like Sami) who are suffering from starvation (more below). 

Some money also went to Fatima, Ameen, and Mahmoud, whom you will meet in later Newsletters from Gaza.

Update on Mohammed at the LifeLine Pharmacy

Last month, you met Mohammad, the young doctor with a degree in Laboratory Medicine, who founded the LifeLine pharmacy in 2024. Mohammad needed to rebuild the pharmacy after being displaced in early 2025. Mohammad works in the pharmacy with 3 medical doctors/ pharmacists.

 They provide diagnostics for free and offer medical treatment to patients at a 30% reduced price to help the people of the community to afford the medicines they need. Each month, the pharmacy needs 3200 USD to have essential medicines available and the staff to support the patients. 

With a lot of effort, Mohammad managed to gather financial support from other donors as well, which allowed us to cover the remaining gap of 700 USD to reach the August goal.

With this money, the pharmacy provided medicines, especially painkillers and antibiotics, but also other medicines and ointments, as needed. In March 2025, Israel had put a total blockade on Gaza, which included that no Baby formula could enter. At the beginning of August, after 150 days of total blockage, a small supply of baby formula made it into Gaza, and Mohammad managed to buy 35 cartons. He distributed all of these for free to the mothers of newborns.

Our donation supported Mohammad in saving lives! 

Food can cost your life. 

We all heard in the news about the insufficient food distribution in Gaza. Israel’s total blockade started on 2 March 2025 and restricted the entry of all humanitarian aid, including food, water, medicine, fuel and baby formula. Even though Israel partially lifted the blockade at the end of May, most of the essential items could not make it into Gaza, as cumbersome customs clearances were imposed, while new security checkpoints delayed entry. 

The news reported about deliberate destruction of truckloads at checkpoints, and we learned that gangs were paid to loot the contents so that not much would reach Gaza’s population. In May, the so-called “Gaza Humanitarian Foundation” started its operation and installed 4 distribution sites, right next to military and in inhumane ways. This foundation was called out to be a “death trap” by NGOs and UN agencies, and yet, they are still operating, killing aid seekers daily. On 27 July 2025, airdrops were resumed, and I have to say, as a humanitarian worker myself, I was furious about this. Airdrops are used in hard-to-reach, inaccessible terrain to provide needed aid. However, airdrops are not meant to be used in a densely populated area due to the risks of harming people with falling objects and causing a stampede. Estimates suggest that at least 23 Palestinians were killed and 124 wounded due to the falling items that were part of the airdrops. 

Since May, some Aid trucks have managed to get into Gaza, and a few have made it to various areas within the Gaza Strip. The distribution, however, is unimaginably dangerous.  Roughly half of the trucks arrive at night, and people gather to wait for their arrival. However, not only do people wait for the trucks, but also for drones and, in cases, snipers and military. Several times Mohammad wrote to me that he survived his journey to try to find food as bombs exploded at the distribution site (see picture), or a stampede happened where Mohammad found himself under several people (picture of Mohammad sitting). We don’t know how often he will be blessed to survive. 

The Cost of Food- Sami’s journey to the market 

While people are starving, there is food on the market. Not much, but some. The source is unclear, maybe some is from remaining fields, maybe some from looted aid trucks, and some is smuggled in for huge prices. 

Sami, a 20-year-old engineering student with a heart of gold and a shining smile, lives in a tent in South Gaza after being displaced. As the oldest son of 7 children and a mother, he is the only breadwinner for his family of 8. 

Additionally, his 6-year-old sister, whom he adores, needs monthly medical treatment for survival. All this is a big burden for one young man- and he carries it with compassion. Next to taking care of his family, he works in a collaborative that takes care of children of the neighbourhood, brings happiness and food to them when possible.

On 5 August, he went to the market and took me with him. 

 These are pictures we rarely see on the news. There is life, and there are items that can be bought. However, the prices are astronomical, while the amount of food and other items is by far not enough to cover the needs. Everyone in Gaza has lost a significant amount of weight by now. Sami, who used to be athletic, has lost 28 kg of muscle. On that day, in the market, he wasn’t able to buy anything, as the prices were high.

When Sami went to the market, these were the prices that day: 

• flour $25 per kilo (in the picture, Sami carries a big bag he had to buy for $500)
• Sugar is extremely expensive — $100 per kilo
• Pasta $20 per kilo
• Oil $20 per litre
• Tomatoes $40 per kilo
• Green beans $37 per kilo
• Lentils $15 per kilo
• Potatoes $35 per kilo (the one in the picture costs $12) 
• Onions $40 per kilo (the one in the picture costs $17)

In order to buy food, one needs cash. Nothing else is accepted. As banks are destroyed, dealers take the role to provide cash for a 40 % commission. Yes- 40%! From every 100 USD that we donate, people in Gaza have 60 USD cash in hand to go to the market. For Sami, that day, 100 USD in donations would have allowed him to buy 5 potatoes for his family of 8 people. He didn’t have that money. 

Update on Darin

Darin is still in Gaza despite efforts to leave, as this is close to impossible at the moment. The situation around her is more and more volatile, with constant drone and bomb attacks. A couple of days ago, she woke up to shrapnel right next to her. Survival is a daily challenge!

In the meantime, Darin registered for the next term of her pharmaceutical studies and is waiting for the university to share the study material. In a rare moment of stable internet connection to Gaza, we had the chance to speak, to laugh together, to worry about the situation, and to discuss dreams. The day will come when Habipit can live her life in safety and follow her dreams. 

Please support us to help the families of Sami, Darin, Mohammad, Fatima, Mahmoud, and Ameen to survive. They need food, water, medicine, and basic hygiene products. 

Mohammad’s LifeLine Pharmacy needs 3200 USD per month to be functional. If Mohammand can gather an additional 1000 USD – he will conduct an event to hand out baby formula free for the mothers.

Our support saves lives!