"The Gallant Knight" reveals the outcome of its interventions in Gaza: aid to more than 400,000 families and movements to confront the winter

Gaza - Ofoq News - At a time when the humanitarian needs of the residents of the Gaza Strip are worsening, and fears are increasing about the repercussions of the winter season on hundreds of thousands of displaced people and those affected by the war, the UAE Operation “Galilant Knight” Support Committee revealed the continuation of its relief and humanitarian interventions in the Strip, announcing the provision of aid to more than 400,000 families during the fourth phase of its operations, and about 55,000 families since the start of the fifth phase on the fifth of last August, in conjunction with the preparation of new projects in The water sector, and continuing efforts to provide shelter supplies to affected families.

The official spokesman for the Operation Gallant Knight Support Committee, Dr. Azzam Shaath, confirmed that the scale of humanitarian needs in the Gaza Strip still exceeds the available capabilities, in light of the restrictions imposed on the entry of aid and the limited numbers of trucks arriving in the Strip, stressing that relief interventions are no longer limited to providing food, medicine, and shelter, but rather extend to recovery projects and support for the health, education, and social sectors.

Shaath's statements came during an interview on the "Talat Sabah" program, presented by journalist Adel Gharib, and broadcast on Radio 4, Ma'an TV, and Ma'an Radio Network. He addressed the nature of the work of Operation Gallant Knight in the Gaza Strip, the outcome of its interventions since its establishment, and the challenges facing the delivery of aid, in addition to the ongoing preparations to face the winter.

Shaath explained that Operation Gallant Knight was established in November 2023, about a month after the outbreak of the war on the Gaza Strip, under the directives of the President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, with the aim of responding to the emergency humanitarian needs of the population, in light of the sharp deterioration witnessed in health and living conditions.

He pointed out that the operation began by sending planes loaded with medical and relief supplies from Abu Dhabi Airport, including equipment to establish an Emirati field hospital in the Gaza Strip, to provide treatment services to the sick and injured at a time when the health sector was under unprecedented pressure.

He said that the UAE intervention did not stop at the establishment of the hospital, but rather continued by sending humanitarian supplies via planes, ships and trucks, with the participation of humanitarian and charitable institutions and volunteers in the UAE, who contributed to preparing and packing relief packages allocated to the residents of the Gaza Strip.

He added that the Operation Gallant Knight Support Committee, which has been operating in the Gaza Strip since November 5, 2023, is responsible for receiving aid and distributing it to the beneficiaries through specialized technical and field teams, stressing that the operation has reached its services to wide segments of the population, whether in areas of displacement or population centers whose residents have remained in their homes.

He stated that the interventions included providing treatment services, medicines, food, and health supplies, in addition to providing tents, curtains, blankets, and basic household needs for families whose homes were demolished or damaged.

Shaath confirmed that the operation dealt, from its inception, with two main categories of population. The first includes the displaced who were forced to leave their areas, whether from the north of the Strip to the south or within the northern regions themselves, and the second includes families who remained in their homes within population centers, explaining that the aid targeted the two categories according to the needs and available capabilities.

In his review of aid distribution mechanisms, Shaath revealed the development of the targeting system and reaching beneficiaries, explaining that the process relied in previous stages on coordination with representatives of camps and population centers, before moving to a mechanism that allows families to register directly to receive relief services.

He said that the fifth phase of the process, which was launched on August 5, relies on electronic links dedicated to registering families, allowing direct access to beneficiaries and organizing the process of providing aid.

He explained that the new mechanism includes families of all sizes, starting from families consisting of one person up to families containing nine members, with the aim of expanding the scope of benefit from services and not excluding small families or those with limited numbers.

Shaath revealed that the operation, from the start of the fifth phase until the date of the interview, provided relief services to about 55,000 families in the Gaza Strip, while more than 400,000 families benefited from the services of the fourth phase, which ended on the fourth of last August.

These numbers, according to what Shaath presented, reflect the volume of interventions implemented by the operation during its various stages, in light of the continuing need for humanitarian aid and the expanding numbers of those affected by the war.

He pointed out that the increase in humanitarian needs requires relief teams to continuously develop work mechanisms, whether at the level of identifying beneficiaries, distributing aid, or coordinating with institutions working in the sector.

In another aspect of the interview, Shaath confirmed that Operation Gallant Knight has expanded over the past years from providing emergency aid to implementing interventions aimed at supporting community recovery and enhancing the residents’ ability to restore aspects of their normal lives.

He explained that the operation carried out activities to support young people, creatives and outstanding people, including honoring the top students in high school, and providing support to educational and pedagogical institutions in the sector.

He also pointed out the implementation of social initiatives targeting young people about to get married, explaining that the operation completed two mass wedding ceremonies to help young people whose economic and humanitarian conditions prevented them from being able to get married.

In this context, he revealed the completion of procedures related to organizing a new mass wedding for 50 grooms in the Gaza Strip, scheduled to be held next month, within the framework of the social initiatives implemented by the operation.

He stressed that these activities come within a vision that goes beyond responding to direct living needs, and seeks to support affected community groups, provide opportunities for social participation and enhance aspects of life in light of difficult circumstances.

He pointed out that women, people with disabilities, and marginalized groups receive special attention within the operation’s programs, explaining that the committee provided urgent assistance and services to these groups, and is working to continue reaching them according to available needs.

Regarding the challenges facing relief work, Shaath stressed that the limited number of trucks entering the Gaza Strip represents one of the most prominent obstacles to expanding the scope of aid, at a time when the population’s needs for food, medicine, health supplies, and shelter materials are increasing.

He said that the operation is looking to increase the number of trucks arriving in the Gaza Strip and facilitate their entry, allowing for the provision of larger amounts of aid and expanding the scope of beneficiaries.

He stressed that the challenge is not only related to the difficulty of introducing aid, but also to the extent of the population’s accumulated needs, considering that all residents of the Gaza Strip are now in need of different forms of humanitarian support as a result of the conditions left by the war.

He explained that this reality places additional burdens on relief institutions, and makes it necessary to strengthen coordination and develop response mechanisms, ensuring maximum benefit from available resources and capabilities.

He pointed out that the committee supporting Operation Gallant Knight relies on a professional and field team that has direct relations with various segments of Palestinian society, including families, mukhtars, notables, legal persons, and representatives of public and private institutions.

He added that the process is keen to build cooperative relationships with international institutions, civil society organizations, and entities working in the health, education, and service sectors, with the aim of enhancing integration in providing services and reaching the groups most in need.

In a development related to infrastructure projects, Shaath revealed a new move in cooperation with the Gaza Municipality to implement projects in the water sector, explaining that he was on his way, at the time of the interview, to the municipality to sign a memorandum of understanding related to extending water lines and rehabilitating existing lines, with the aim of improving water access to the residents of Gaza City.

He stressed that the project comes as a continuation of a series of interventions implemented by the operation in the water and health sectors during the last period, noting that the provision of basic services represents one of the important axes in the humanitarian response and recovery efforts.

Water projects are of particular importance in light of the damage to the infrastructure in the Gaza Strip, and the increasing need to rehabilitate basic service networks and improve the population’s ability to obtain water.

In response to a question about coordination between relief institutions to avoid duplication of aid or negative interference in work, Shaath confirmed the existence of channels of communication and coordination with international and local institutions and basic sectors in Gaza.

He explained that this cooperation includes health and educational institutions and civil society organizations, and helps exchange information, identify needs, and expand access to beneficiaries.

But at the same time, he stressed that a family receiving assistance from another relief organization does not mean that it is automatically deprived of the services of Operation Gallant Knight, considering that the continuation of humanitarian needs requires continuing to provide support to the population without exception.

He stressed that the humanitarian and moral responsibility towards the population requires not being satisfied with the assistance provided by one party, especially in light of the diversity of needs and the difficult living conditions.

Regarding winter preparations, which constitute one of the most prominent sources of concern for displaced and affected families, Shaath stressed the continuation of humanitarian interventions aimed at providing shelter supplies and protection from weather conditions.

He explained that the operation carried out interventions during the previous winters that included distributing tents, curtains, blankets, and household supplies, to help families who lost their homes or were forced to reside in displacement centers and areas.

He pointed out that the operation announced during the past few days the continuation of providing aid and humanitarian interventions to confront the possible repercussions of the winter, in light of fears that displaced families will be exposed to more suffering as a result of rain, cold, and weak means of shelter.

Shaath touched on the issue of bringing caravans and mobile homes into the Gaza Strip, expressing his hope that arrangements would be reached that would allow their entry, providing more appropriate shelter solutions for families who lost their homes.

He stressed that the provision of these units is linked to the possibility of introducing them to the sector, indicating the UAE’s readiness, as he confirmed, to continue providing support and providing the basic needs of the population whenever the necessary conditions and capabilities are available.

During the interview, Shaath did not specify a date for the introduction of mobile homes or expected numbers of them, but he stressed the continuation of efforts to improve shelter conditions and help residents face the repercussions of the winter.

He stressed that the Operation Gallant Knight Support Committee will continue its humanitarian and relief work in various regions of the sector, focusing on the most needy groups, and developing assistance programs in line with developments in field conditions and societal needs.