Supporting Gaza goes beyond traditional charity. Mutual aid—community members directly helping each other—provides flexible, immediate relief to families in crisis. This guide explains how mutual aid works in Gaza, how to support it, and how your donation creates direct impact.

How mutual aid works in Gaza Community networks: Local Gaza residents coordinate with diaspora community members to identify urgent needs and distribute aid directly to families. Direct support: Funds go straight to specific families for immediate needs like food, medicine, emergency shelter, or evacuation costs. Flexible aid: Unlike restricted charity grants, mutual aid can cover whatever the family needs most: rent, medical bills, phone credits to contact relatives, transportation. Horizontal structure: No hierarchy. Community members help each other as equals, not donors helping recipients. Speed: Mutual aid can mobilize within hours for emergencies, while traditional charities may take weeks for approvals.

Emergency medical support

What it funds:

• Urgent surgeries for injured civilians
• Prosthetics for amputees
• Evacuation from Gaza for critical care
• Medications for chronic patients
• Psychological trauma support

Campaign example: Individual campaigns for children needing emergency surgery, with funds going directly to hospital or medical evacuation costs.

Average campaign: $5,000-$15,000 per individual medical case

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Direct family relief

What it funds:

• Monthly food supplies for displaced families
• Emergency shelter costs
• Replacing destroyed belongings
• Cash assistance for immediate needs
• School supplies and clothing for children

Campaign example: "Support the Ahmed Family" campaigns where specific families receive direct cash or supplies based on their stated needs.

Average campaign: $500-$5,000 per family, often recurring

Organizations doing this: One Ummah Charity (750 campaigns, $3.7M raised), Forgotten Women (3,623 campaigns, $2.9M raised)

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Community kitchens

What it funds:

• Hot meals prepared locally in Gaza
• Food ingredients for community cooking
• Kitchen equipment and fuel
• Staff costs for cooks
• Distribution to displacement camps

Campaign example: "Gaza Community Kitchen: Feed 200 Families Daily" where local volunteers cook and distribute meals.

Average campaign: $3,000-$10,000 per month of operations

Why this works:

• Employs local Gaza residents (providing income)
• Fresh meals instead of packaged food
• Serves neighborhoods traditional charities can't always reach
• Dignified, culturally appropriate food

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Water distribution

What it funds:

• Water trucks delivering clean water to homes
• Desalination equipment repairs
• Bottled water for families without access
• Water storage tanks
• Hygiene supplies

Campaign example: "Water for 50 Families in Rafah" where donors fund a water truck's daily operations.

Average campaign: $2,000-$8,000 per month

Critical need: With 95% of Gaza's water contaminated, water distribution is life-saving.

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Education support

What it funds:

• Online tutoring for displaced students
• School supplies and books
• Internet access for remote learning
• University fees for students
• Vocational training programs

Campaign example: "Keep Gaza Students Learning" campaigns supporting online education while schools are destroyed.

Average campaign: $1,000-$5,000 per semester

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Orphan sponsorship

What it funds:

• Monthly stipend for orphan's guardian
• Food, clothing, shelter
• Education and books
• Medical care
• Psychological support

Campaign example: "Sponsor an Orphan: $50/month" recurring campaigns where donors commit to long-term support.

Average campaign: $600-$3,000 per year per orphan

Zakat eligible: Yes, orphan support qualifies for zakat