A Reliable Knowledge Base for a Deeper Understanding of Humanitarian Work

The Gaza Strip in the Palestinian territories is experiencing one of the worst humanitarian catastrophes in modern history. This small coastal enclave, spanning no more than 365 square kilometers and located in the southwestern corner of the Asian continent on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea, is facing unprecedented destruction and suffering unmatched in decades. Although the Strip has long symbolized the ongoing Palestinian plight, particularly since the imposition of the Israeli blockade in 2007, the military offensive that began in October 2023 marked a catastrophic turning point, leading to a near-complete collapse of infrastructure and an exacerbation of humanitarian conditions to unprecedented levels.
The latest official statistics, according to data from the Palestinian Authority, indicate that more than 55,039 people have been killed and over 129,829 others injured, including thousands of women and children. However, the toll of victims and the scale of destruction in the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023, continues to evolve due to the enormity of the humanitarian disaster and the expanding scope of the aggression, with figures changing almost daily—and sometimes hourly—as the number of martyrs and wounded rises and the devastation worsens. These numbers are preliminary estimates, subject to updates, and often trend toward the worse with ongoing escalation. For instance, Dr. Ghassan Abu Sitta—one of the most prominent doctors working in the Gaza Strip during the war—has indicated that the actual number of victims may exceed 300,000, given the tens of thousands missing under the rubble or in inaccessible areas. In parallel, the military escalation has led to the forced displacement of approximately 1.9 million people, or about 90% of the Strip's population, in repeated waves affecting most areas, amid a lack of shelter and basic services. More than 330,000 housing units have been completely or partially destroyed, resulting in the displacement of hundreds of thousands of families and leaving them homeless.
Despite the horror of the catastrophe, humanitarian organizations have made significant efforts to respond to urgent needs on the ground, managing to reach more than 2.1 million people during the initial weeks following the ceasefire in January 2025. This response included distributing over 36,000 tons of food aid, providing more than 100,000 tents and blankets, and delivering primary healthcare services to over 750,000 individuals, in addition to operating 11 health facilities in the least affected areas. However, these efforts were quickly hampered by the renewal of military operations, leading to a near-total collapse of the healthcare system, the shutdown of most water and electricity networks, and a worsening of the economic and humanitarian crisis across the Strip. In light of this deteriorating reality, the scale of the catastrophe ravaging the Gaza Strip demands a humanitarian response that goes beyond emergency interventions to include integrated strategic plans based on a precise assessment of needs, proposing implementation pathways grounded in international humanitarian standards, while considering the specificities of the local context and the political and logistical constraints it imposes on the ground.
This report presents a comprehensive, multi-dimensional analysis of the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip since October 2023, drawing on field and desk-based analysis to provide a clear vision of the required needs and responses. The report is divided into several sections, beginning with an overview of the general background on the geographical and historical context of the Strip, followed by an assessment of the broad humanitarian impact of the ongoing crisis. It then analyzes the key humanitarian sectors, including: food security and livelihoods, health, education, housing, and protection. Subsequently, it outlines the emergency relief response plan according to the vision of the "Relief Center" program at "Taqat" company, which is divided into three interconnected phases temporally and functionally: the immediate response phase, then early recovery, and finally reconstruction and rebuilding of life systems. The report concludes with a set of practical recommendations, detailed according to each temporal phase.
It is important to emphasize that the humanitarian response, despite its urgent necessity, remains hostage to the prevailing political situation; field interventions and urgent relief aid are still subject to the system of permissions and prohibitions controlled by the parties to the conflict. Accordingly, this report serves as a supportive tool for humanitarian decision-making, but it is not detached from the political reality that imposes restrictions on access, implementation, and achieving real impact on the ground.

In light of the escalating and unprecedented humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip since 7 October 2023, this document constitutes the executive summary of a comprehensive analytical report developed by the Relief Center, a program of Taqat Company. The report presents a structured emergency response plan based on rigorous contextual analysis and informed by consultations with local and international experts. It proposes a phased and integrated framework consisting of three interdependent stages:
1. Immediate Response – addressing urgent basic needs (0–3 months);
2. Early Recovery – restoring critical services and infrastructure (4–6 months);
3. Reconstruction and Systems Rehabilitation – rebuilding livelihoods and essential life systems (6–12 months).
The ongoing offensive has resulted in large-scale destruction and the forced displacement of approximately 90% of the Gaza Strip’s population, amid the near-total collapse of critical infrastructure. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), at least 55,039 people have been killed, including over 800 infants and 270 newborns delivered during the war period. More than 129,800 others have sustained varying degrees of injuries.
Data from the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) indicate that the population of Gaza has declined to approximately 2.1 million—representing a decrease of around 160,000 people compared to 2023, or a 6% reduction. However, the casualty figures and the scale of destruction since 7 October 2023 remain fluid and continue to evolve due to the magnitude of the humanitarian catastrophe and the ongoing escalation. Numbers often shift on a near-daily—or even hourly—basis, with rising death tolls, growing injury counts, and worsening devastation. These figures are considered preliminary estimates, subject to ongoing updates, and are likely to deteriorate further as hostilities continue.
Despite the humanitarian efforts launched by aid organizations - which reached over 2.1 million affected individuals during the ceasefire period in January 2025, delivered more than 36,000 metric tons of assistance, and activated programs in healthcare, education, and psychosocial support - the renewed military operations and the collapse of essential service networks have further exacerbated the crisis, pushing it beyond the operational capacity of conventional humanitarian response mechanisms. This calls for the adoption of a more comprehensive and anticipatory phased response, which this plan aims to outline.

Syria enters today a pivotal phase in its modern history, marked by profound political and humanitarian transformations after fourteen years of armed conflict that produced one of the most complex humanitarian crises of the twenty-first century. The collapse of the former regime in December 2024 and the formation of a transitional government in March 2025 have opened new horizons for political stabilization - though still fragile amid a volatile security and economic environment and a society heavily burdened by displacement, refugee flows, and institutional collapse.
As a result, millions of Syrians are facing the compounded effects of a protracted crisis, marked by severe deterioration in living, economic, and humanitarian conditions, varying across different regions. Vital sectors such as health, education, and infrastructure have suffered extensive damage, especially in areas that witnessed intense military operations or frequent shifts in control. This has directly affected the ability of the state, as well as international and local institutions, to provide essential services consistently and efficiently.
Daily life for many Syrians has become increasingly tied to accumulating livelihood challenges - rising poverty, lack of income sources, limited access to healthcare, and declining quality of education, particularly in remote areas and displacement camps. Estimates indicate that there are more than 6.7 million internally displaced persons, including over 2.3 million living in camps that lack basic infrastructure and essential services, exacerbating the suffering of the most vulnerable groups - especially women, children, and the elderly.
At the same time, the Syrian refugee crisis remains one of the longest and largest displacement crises in the world, with more than 5.5 million refugees living outside the country, distributed across neighboring states - such as Turkey, Lebanon, and Jordan - as well as regions in Europe and North Africa. These refugees face complex challenges related to legal status, access to education and healthcare, and securing dignified livelihoods, amid host environments that are themselves undergoing deepening economic crises.
Today’s humanitarian landscape in Syria is shaped by two distinct contexts, each with differing challenges and levels of data availability. In areas previously outside the control of the former regime, more detailed information on needs and actors has been available in recent years, enabling more precise planning and response. In contrast, areas that had been under regime control experienced high levels of opacity, limited transparency, and restrictions on humanitarian organizations, hindering independent assessments or access to sufficient data.
This disparity in information availability constitutes a significant obstacle to developing a balanced and comprehensive response. In many regions, estimates remain partial or based on indirect sources, complicating efforts to align interventions with actual on-the-ground needs.
Within this context, the relief and development response plan launched by Relief Center represents a systematic attempt to bridge the gap between urgent humanitarian action and pathways toward sustainable recovery. The plan relies on an in-depth analysis of Syria’s historical, geographic, and demographic context, drawing on credible sources such as reports from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the World Bank, ensuring that efforts align with real-world priorities and population needs.
This report offers a three-phase roadmap encompassing immediate response, early recovery, and reconstruction and development, placing at its core the protection of the most vulnerable groups, the strengthening of community resilience, and the rebuilding of the national fabric on foundations of justice, dignity, and effective governance. In doing so, the report aspires to serve as a practical and realistic tool to support the transition toward a more stable and humane future for all Syrians.

The Syrian crisis stands as one of the most complex humanitarian crises of the 21st century, sparked by an armed conflict that has persisted for over fourteen years, leaving catastrophic impacts on humanitarian, economic, and social levels. This report serves as a summary of the comprehensive analytical report prepared by the Relief Center, a program under Taqat Company.
The report aims to highlight the emergency relief response plan adopted by the Relief Center, which is based on a three-phase approach tailored to the evolving humanitarian situation and the needs of each temporal phase. The plan begins with Phase One (0–12 months), dedicated to urgent relief response, followed by Phase Two (13–24 months), which focuses on early recovery and the restoration of essential services, culminating in Phase Three (25–36 months), which encompasses efforts for reconstruction and comprehensive development. Within this framework, the report examines the response mechanisms appropriate for each phase, alongside an estimation of the scale and type of assistance required to ensure an effective and comprehensive response.
It is noteworthy that Syrians currently face dire living conditions, manifested in a severe economic collapse, a significant decline in purchasing power due to the drastic devaluation of the local currency, and prolonged electricity outages. Internally displaced persons face additional burdens, most notably the high cost of housing rentals and a scarcity of job opportunities. Estimates indicate that approximately 90% of Syria’s population lives below the poverty line, while around 70% face acute food shortages, necessitating an urgent and extensive relief response to alleviate the escalating humanitarian suffering.
Relief Center’s Vision for Humanitarian Response, Recovery, Reconstruction, and Comprehensive Development:
The Syrian experience reveals critical lessons in managing protracted crises, most notably the impact of funding shortages and the importance of humanitarian coordination to avoid duplication and ensure access to the most vulnerable groups. It also underscores the necessity of supporting the resilience of affected communities and enhancing the flexibility of responses to address sudden changes. The crisis has exposed the limitations of traditional models, necessitating the adoption of comprehensive responses that integrate relief, early recovery, and reconstruction, while considering the conditions of host communities in neighboring countries.
In this context, the Relief Center has developed a framework outlining the types of assistance feasible during and after the conflict, supported by practical examples drawn from field experiences. Additionally, the Center has formulated a comprehensive three-phase strategic plan that integrates emergency response, recovery, and reconstruction efforts, guided by international standards such as the Sphere Handbook, to ensure a humanitarian response rooted in rights and dignity.

The Kashmir conflict is one of the oldest ongoing geopolitical disputes in modern history, with its roots dating back to 1947 following the partition of the Indian subcontinent, which led to three major wars between India and Pakistan, leaving profound humanitarian impacts that continue to reverberate today. The two sides contest sovereignty over the region, where India administers the area of "Jammu and Kashmir," while Pakistan oversees "Azad Kashmir" and "Gilgit-Baltistan." The areas adjacent to the "Line of Control" (LoC) remain recurrent flashpoints, witnessing shelling operations and forced displacement of populations, amid fragile infrastructure and weak protection mechanisms.
In the shadow of this chronic conflict, Kashmir has experienced systematic human rights violations, with more than 50,000 people killed and thousands of cases of enforced disappearances recorded, along with the documentation of hundreds of mass graves and a near-total absence of accountability. At the same time, Pakistan is grappling with escalating humanitarian crises exacerbated by natural disasters and economic deterioration, as the 2022 floods left devastating effects impacting over 33 million people, while more than 24 million face urgent humanitarian needs, including food insecurity, acute water crises, and widespread malnutrition among children. Despite humanitarian interventions, such as UNICEF providing safe water to 1.7 million people and health services to 3.6 million others, in addition to supporting education for affected children, these efforts remain limited compared to the enormity of the crisis, the increasing numbers of displaced persons and refugees, and the immense pressure on national resources.
In May 2025, tensions escalated with India's launch of "Operation Sindoor Aerial," leading to new waves of displacement within "Azad Kashmir," partial destruction of infrastructure, and acute crises in fuel, food, and shelter. With limited international interventions and ineffective deterrence mechanisms, the possibilities of sliding into full-scale war remain present, imposing accelerating humanitarian challenges that require immediate preparedness from the humanitarian community.
Based on these facts, this report aims to provide a proactive assessment of the urgent humanitarian needs that may arise from the escalation of the conflict between India and Pakistan, through an analysis of potential escalation scenarios and proposing an immediate relief response tailored to each scenario. The report also includes practical recommendations to assist humanitarian actors in advance planning and effective resource allocation, ensuring rapid response and minimizing humanitarian impact in the event of crisis development.

This report provides a condensed version of the comprehensive foresight analysis developed by the Relief Center, a program of Taqat Company. The objective is to highlight potential escalation scenarios along the India-Pakistan border, assess their humanitarian implications, and propose appropriate response mechanisms for each scenario including projections of the required humanitarian assistance based on evolving conditions.
During April and May, the border areas between the two countries experienced a sharp military escalation, resulting in dozens of fatalities and injuries, and the displacement of thousands of civilians. The hostilities were concentrated in Kashmir, with spillover effects into Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan's Punjab province. Indiscriminate shelling and cross-border fire have significantly worsened living conditions and undermined civilian safety, giving rise to acute needs in food, shelter, and access to safe water, alongside increasing vulnerability among at-risk populations.