TRUSTEES REPORT For the Year ended 30[th] April 2024
Palestine Aid was established in April 2011 in response to Israeli aggression against Palestinian citizens in the Occupied Territories. We are based in Belfast but since the latest phase of the Genocide started in 2023 we have been receiving support from across the island.
CHARITABLE OBJECTIVES
The charitable company was established to:
a) Provide shelter to the victims of war and conflict;
b) Provide mental psychological assistance to individuals, families and communities to overcome trauma;
c) Assist in providing medicine and medical services in Palestine;
d) Assist in the training and provision of medical equipment to medical personnel in Palestine
e) Advance education and training;
f) Identify and verify the most urgent humanitarian needs of the people;
g) Organise and facilitate fund-raising campaigns
h) Raise public awareness of the severe deprivation of the Palestinians.
PAST PROJECTS
In the past, Palestine Aid has successfully funded three Scholarships at the Islamic University Gaza for students in financial distress. We have fundraised for families left homeless and bereaved from the war on Gaza 2014.
These continued along with in the 2023-24 year, the supply of school equipment, clothing for children, meat parcels for families to celebrate Eid al adha until the genocide in October 2023 when the children we were supporting were killed or displaced and the school was razed to the ground. 630 children who were included in Palestine Aid’s initiatives have been killed in their own homes, during displacement or while searching for food and water. We won’t know the full extent of the damage done to our Projects for some time.
Registered Office: 19 Estoril Park, Belfast BT14 7NG
NI Charity Number 102274
TRUSTEES REPORT Continued
CURRENT PROJECTS
The past 2024-25 year has seen our fundraising efforts here increase substantially and benefitted people on the ground throughout Gaza and Rafah. The majority of money went to feed people and supply basic medical aid to those who were now living in camps with little or no support because their homes had been destroyed and their families buried under the rubble.
A standout project was that we were able to get a mobile maternity unit into the area and it can be used outside Gaza. It obviously had to be mobile as the Israeli State were bombing and targeting the hospitals.
At the date of this report, there is a very fragile ceasefire in place and a small amount of aid has been allowed in. The crossing at Rafah between Egypt and Gaza has just been closed again, denying aid to the Palestinians.
Although publicly the Israelis are saying they are committed to the ceasefire, their actions suggest otherwise so we are in a very precarious situation at the date of this report.
We continue to raise funds using Crowd funder, regular donations and local events. We appreciate everyone who donated throughout the year and provide monthly updates on Social Media from Palestine showing the Projects in action and monthly updates on fund raising through a private messaging group with regular donors.
Signed on behalf of the Trustees
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Fra Hughes
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_____ Pauline O’Hare
Registered Office: 19 Estoril Park, Belfast BT14 7NG
NI Charity Number 102274