ZOA is currently expanding its local team, including the recruitment of a project coordinator, which enables the organisation to reach more families in Gaza with life-saving support. All emergency assistance is provided in cooperation with a Christian network organisation in the area.
*LAST UPDATE 17-10-2025*
ZOA expands humanitarian response in Gaza
With the recent ceasefire in Gaza, opportunities to deliver more humanitarian aid have increased. ZOA has therefore been able to expand its response. “The needs are overwhelming,” says Hielke Zantema, ZOA’s Disaster Reponse Officer. “That’s why it’s so important that we can scale up, to reach many more people in urgent need.”
17 October 2025
Families who lost everything
Many families in Gaza have lost everything in the conflict between Israel and Hamas. They are in urgent need of food, water, and shelter. Despite the extremely difficult situation, ZOA has been providing assistance since the start of the escalation. Initially this was done through food distributions and a communal kitchen, which provided over 100,000 hot meals. Later, ZOA was able to provide families with electronic vouchers, allowing them to purchase food, water, and other basic necessities themselves.
Food and medicine
Recent data shows that around 80 percent of the vouchers are used to buy food, while the rest goes mainly towards medicine and local transport, such as hiring a donkey for short-distance travel.
Although much of Gaza remains in ruins, this approach has proven effective for the time being, explains Hielke: "We see that local markets are gradually recovering. Prices are falling, and more goods are becoming available, although scarcity remains a problem. This allows people to buy what they need most. For one family that might be medicine, for another diapers for a newborn baby."
Fragile situation
ZOA is able to continue providing aid, as long as the ceasefire holds. "The situation remains fragile," Hielke says. "The road ahead is long, but we persevere. ZOA will keep standing with people affected by disasters and conflict in crisis areas."
Previous update: ZOA is ready to scale up humanitarian aid in Gaza