CARE International is distributing food, medicine and other supplies to people in Gaza Ordinary people in Gaza are exhausted, traumatized, hungry and cold. After five days of being holed up in their homes, many are running out of stocks of food and water. Although UNRWA is distributing food today, many families are just too fearful to leave their homes. CARE, with partner the Palestinian Red Crescent Society has supplies like heaters, plastic, and blankets ready for distribution to people whose houses are damaged or who have been displaced, but it is too dangerous to actually undertake the distribution. Mamdouh, CARE’s project manager says ‘It feels so dangerous here. None of my family could sleep until 6.30am this morning. You hear children crying everywhere and everybody seems to have a viral cold infection.’ But despite all the set backs, and the danger, CARE project staff are out in Gaza working, delivering urgently needed medical supplies and fresh food to the most vulnerable. CARE medical supplies provided with ECHO funding have arrived at the Kerem Shalom crossing and as soon as they are off loaded and stacked on Palestinian tucks they will be distributed to Gaza’s hospitals from wharehouses. Supplies include urgently needed plastic sheeting to provide shelter for homes damaged by the bombardments and blankets as well as essential pharmaceuticals. There is still an acute need for blood supplies, medical equipment and for emergency operations and after care, medical specialists, plastic sheets, blankets and heaters. Yazdan al Amawi who heads CARE’s Gaza office says: ‘There is nothing available now in the markets in Gaza. Everything you can imagine has gone. We need more of everything and above all, people need calm to be able to move to replenish stocks of food and water, repair their houses and sleep.’ On 31st December, CARE has delivered 37,000 kg of vegetables to 1,793 vulnerable families. Today, 1st January, CARE distributed fresh vegetables to eleven hospitals and 20 tons to the Food Bank run by partners where it will be cooked for 1,000 families who have members who are injured, infirm or disabled. CARE has launched an emergency appeal, further details can be found on our website. A Palestinian child stands next to a destroyed mosque and houses in Jabalia refugee camp, Gaza Strip after an Israeli bombardment that killed Jawaher Baahushe aged 4 and her five young sisters. Abid Katib/Getty Images for CARE International.