How to help Gaza: Trusted ways to donate
This is not really education-related, but I thought some people might find it helpful.
I've spent the day researching trusted organisations and navigating their various sites. If you're able to donate, here's a list of charities and initiatives providing food, water, medical care, mental health support, and internet access – each with a short description and direct donation link.
Please feel free to suggest others in the comments.
1. Connecting Humanity – Donate eSIMs to Gaza
Provides digital eSIMs ($10–$50 each) to help Gazans connect to the internet and contact loved ones. Delivery is rapid, often within 15 minutes.
https://connecting-humanity.org/donate/
It’s a bit involved - you can either do a bank transfer to CH, or you can buy some eSims and send a screengrab of the QR codes to gazaesims@gmail.com (in separate emails). Here’s a site comparing various providers: https://www.monito.com/en/best-esim-for/palestine
I went with Holafly - you can get 5 days unlimited data for £16.15 (you get a small discount with the promo code HOLACNG). I figured it’s best to get several of the cheapest one coz that way more people benefit? Here’s the link: https://esim.holafly.com/esim-palestine
You receive one email per eSim and you need to send the QR codes in separate emails. Put in the email header how many days and how much data - e.g. ‘eSim 5 days unlimited data’. By the way, when the emails arrived, some of them just had 3 dots at the top of the email. I had to click on the 3 dots to reveal the QR code.
2. Doctors without borders (Médecins Sans Frontières)
Provides emergency surgery and supplies; some staff are still active inside Gaza, where mass starvation is affecting aid workers as well as civilians.
https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/what-we-do/where-we-work/palestine
3. Egyptian Food Bank – Gaza Emergency Relief
Delivers food parcels and essential aid directly from Egypt, achieving faster access than many Western agencies. You can buy relief boxes for 1500 EGP (£23) each.
https://www.efb.eg/programs/3086/aghath-aaagl-lahaly-ghz
4. Gaza Community Mental Health Programme / War Child
Supports child mental health services and trauma recovery.
5. Islamic Relief
Medical Evacuation for Children in Gaza
https://www.islamic-relief.org.uk/giving/appeals/palestine/medical-evacuation-for-children-in-gaza/
It asks whether you want your donation to be treated as Zakat. I’ve not come across this before, but according to ChatGPT ‘Designating it as Zakat distinguishes it from voluntary charity (Sadaqah), which can be used more flexibly for broad humanitarian needs. Sadaqah funds may support long-term programs, infrastructure, or community projects. Zakat, by contrast, goes strictly to eligible individuals or causes in need.’
So I think it makes sense to tick the box.
6. Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP)
UK-based charity delivering emergency healthcare, maternity kits, and trauma support in Gaza. Highly respected and active on the ground through local partners.
Again you can tick the Zakat box.
7. Middle East Children’s Alliance (MECA)
Partners with grassroots organisations to provide food, clean water, psychosocial care, and trauma-informed education for children and families.
8. Palestine Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF)
Delivers food, water, and essential medical care to children and families in Gaza. Charity Navigator score: 97/100 for accountability and financial efficiency.
For some reason the payment kept not going through but it eventually worked with PayPal.
9. Umma Foundation
Faith-based nonprofit offering mobile healthcare units, clean water, and trauma kits to civilians inside Gaza. Focused on urgent famine relief and survival.
They’re running a ‘hot meals for Gaza’ campaign - https://www.ummafoundation.org/campaigns/hot-meals-for-gaza-a-lifeline-in-the-midst-of-crisis
There’s a hefty transaction and platform fee (9%!) that you can opt to cover if you wish.
10. UNRWA – United Nations Relief and Works Agency
Supports over 1 million displaced Gazans with food, cash assistance, and medical aid. Their Gaza Emergency Appeal funds shelters and health services directly.
https://donate.unrwa.org/int/en/general
You can do the Zakat thing if you wish.
11. World Central Kitchen (WCK)
Provides meals to displaced Gazans through innovative delivery methods including sea and airdrops. Their work continues despite recent tragic staff losses.