Update for August and September 2024
I will continue to send you news every two months. This time I am late since it is already October and I am writing for August and September.
Recently I was able to talk by phone to Fr. Gabriel, the parish priest of the Latin Catholic parish of Gaza. He shared with me the situation there since I last wrote for June and July. I can add pictures at the end which show the need for water and food.
There are 400,000 residents in the north with shelling going on for almost a year now. People are killed and injured daily as they shell the whole Strip. They serve 2,500 families in the parish and also in the Orthodox parish which is not far from them. All are civilians. They also provide for the neighborhood Muslims and Christians. They are funded by the Latin Patriarchate.
Sadly, there is little sign of a cease-fire. A cease-fire is critical because it would enable them to serve a large amount of food, water, and medicines. Many of the medicines for people with chronic diseases, like high blood pressure, cannot get in. They also need fuel for cooking. They cook three times a week for the refugees in their compound and neighbors outside their compound. Bags of food are also distributed every two weeks. They serve three meals daily to 2,500 people.
All are extremely tired as they cannot sleep nights due to the shelling.
The Pontifical Mission continues to serve the refugees in the north. They have a plan which entails working with other NGOs to serve more people. It will be attached here and is addressed to Al Omri who has been our main benefactor in the pre-war and post-war period. Much to our surprise, they too have decided to discontinue their Al Omri Relief Organization. Both our Daughters of Charity and the Al Omri emergency relief non-profit organizations regret that we are withdrawing from our assistance at this time of war.
As we downsize, I am finding that I have the time to continue fundraising for them. So I will continue despite my age and the current war in the north. Sabah, who ran our pre-war programs, is encouraging me with the help of our friends there who are refugees. We’ll see where this goes. May the Spirit lead us!
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