Maintaining aid despite obstacles: our commitment in Gaza

In Gaza, accessing and delivering humanitarian aid remains a daily struggle despite the ceasefire. In spite of administrative constraints and security risks, SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL continues its efforts to address the vital needs of the population.

A ceasefire that changes the situation ? 

The ceasefire we had been hoping for1 was finally signed on October 10, 2025. But while the pace of military operations has slowed, the bombings have not stopped, resulting in more than 460 deaths since then. Families who have returned to their neighborhoods have found their homes destroyed, infrastructure non-existent, and dramatic living conditions. However, “people prefer to return home, even if everything is destroyed, rather than stay in overcrowded and unsanitary areas”, explains Grégoire Rivière, director for SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL in Gaza.  

These returns coincide with the arrival of winter: torrential rains, floods, and cold weather are exacerbating the precarious situation of the 1.9 million people who have been enduring a deluge of violence for more than two years. Makeshift shelters are collapsing, tarps are blowing away, and water is stagnating. 13,000 families have already been affected by the bad weather, and the situation is set to worsen in the coming weeks, especially as the floods are conducive to the spread of disease: latrines are overflowing, waste is accumulating, and drinking water is becoming scarce. The risk of contamination is high. 

The NGO registration process must be accelerated 

SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL has been present in Gaza since early 2024. The blockade and the administrative, technical and security constraints that characterize this extraordinary humanitarian response are major obstacles to the delivery of essential aid. In order to continue to address the vital needs of victims, SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL -in consultation with its Palestinian teams- acts in strict accordance with humanitarian principles, which are also the basis of our NGO. Humanity, impartiality, neutrality, and independence, as well as the obligation to do no harm, guide our actions in Palestine as in all our areas of intervention. This ethical approach, along with the absolute priority we give to the safety of our teams in the field and access to victims, has allowed our Palestinian and expatriate teams to be constantly present alongside the most vulnerable and to continue to deliver impartial and independent aid throughout these 22 months of war.  

While a massive and essential increase in humanitarian aid was supposed to accompany the ceasefire, the importation of essential items needed for this aid, as well as the continued presence of NGOs in the Gaza Strip, are more than ever threatened by administrative restrictions related to NGO registration and, in some cases, deregistration, which no longer allows them to operate. Although SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL has obtained the necessary authorizations from the Palestinian Authority and the Israeli government to continue our work in Gaza, this is still not the case for most NGOs. SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL affirms its support for organizations that, like us, act in accordance with humanitarian principles as part of a response that conforms to international law and is supervised by the United Nations. 

Our actions in the field: a flexible and tailored response 

Our actions take place in extreme conditions: lack of spare parts, restrictions on equipment imports, and fuel shortages. Fuel oil, which is essential for running generators, is still a major issue. Despite this, in less than two years, we have rehabilitated four desalination units and distributed 39 million liters of water to more than 120,000 people. We continue to install latrines and manage waste to limit health risks.  

Since the ceasefire, procedures remain extremely complicated and restrictive, but humanitarian aid trucks have been able to enter the Gaza Strip. To help people deal with the cold and rain, SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL has just distributed tarpaulins and ropes to 3,200 families. In the coming days, more than 20,000 mattresses and 30,000 blankets will be delivered, and thousands of hygiene items will arrive in Gaza in January. Every day, we adapt our methods to overcome logistical and security obstacles. 

Header photo : © SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL