24 October 2023
Dear all,
We write to you in the spirit of humanity and solidarity, as we bear witness to the escalating crisis in Gaza that urgently calls for immediate and meaningful action from the global community.
Following our public statement regarding the urgent need for humanitarian aid in Gaza, we express our collective concern for the devastating impact of the ongoing conflict on civilians in Gaza. We call for “a peace without violence” and emphasise the need for a ceasefire and establishing humanitarian corridors to ensure that emergency aid reaches the most vulnerable. We are heartened by the aid trucks that have crossed into Gaza this past weekend, bearing much needed supplies. As our colleagues in Palestine have noted, 20 trucks of aid are far from enough for the 2.3 million people in Gaza. Before the current conflict, there were 100 trucks crossing each day. The international community must act immediately to ensure essential humanitarian aid is delivered.
This is not merely a regional concern but a matter of global importance. Communities around the world, that are themselves familiar with conflict and crisis, stand ready to support the most vulnerable people in Palestine. We insist on an immediate halt to the violence and the protection of civilians, hospitals, schools, and community centres from attacks.
We have observed the international community’s prompt response to conflicts and crises in various regions, emphasising the importance of sovereignty and human rights. The dedication to expediting aid and finding diplomatic resolutions has been commendable. It is vital that Gaza, too, receives an equally urgent commitment to uphold human rights and ensure a swift humanitarian response, mirroring the dedication we’ve shown to other conflict-affected areas.
As local leaders in Gaza navigate this complex and dangerous environment, their unique perspective and understanding of their communities’ needs are crucial. Yet, they are also victims of this ongoing humanitarian crisis as well, caught between the urgent desire to support their communities and the imperative to protect themselves and their own families. It will take time for them to recover and be able to act, beyond their immediate communities. In the meantime, international aid agencies are positioning supplies and getting ready to bring humanitarian relief to civilians.
We urge donors and international operational actors to remain flexible in their programming and to actively engage local leaders when they are ready. As we navigate these next few weeks, it is essential to keep the channels of communication open with local and national organisation leaders in Palestine. Reach out to them, regularly, and show your support, even if they are not able to communicate with you right now. Demonstrate your humanity. And be ready to shift gears when the time comes to bring them on board in rethinking relief.
By ensuring that community needs are at the core of ongoing humanitarian support, we reaffirm the essential role local actors play in driving the response and support to communities.
This is where and how to demonstrate your commitment to localisation.
Sincerely,
Signatories
| NAME | COUNTRY |
| Afghanistan National Urban and Rural Development Organization (ANURDO) | Afghanistan |
| Assalam Welfare Foundation | Afghanistan |
| Citizens Organization for Advocacy and Resilience (COAR) | Afghanistan |
| Civil Society Empowerment Network – CEN | Afghanistan |
| Seahum (Southeast Asia Humanitarian Committee) | ASEAN region |
| Association For Alternative Development (AFAD) | Bangladesh |
| Barokupot Ganochetona Foundation-BGF | Bangladesh |
| Chilmari Distressed Development Foundation (CDDF) | Bangladesh |
| Dhaka Ahsania Mission (DAM) | Bangladesh |
| DWIP UNNAYAN SONGSTHA (DUS) | Bangladesh |
| Efforts for Rural Advancement (ERA) | Bangladesh |
| Garib Unnayan Sangstha (GUS) | Bangladesh |
| Light House www.lighthousebd.org; | Bangladesh |
| Nabolok Parishad | Bangladesh |
| National Alliance of Humanitarian Actors Bangladesh (NAHAB) | Bangladesh |
| National Development Programme (NDP) | Bangladesh |
| National Development Programme (NDP) | Bangladesh |
| Prattasha Samazik Unnayan Sangstha (PSUS) | Bangladesh |
| Rural Society Development Association (RSDA) | Bangladesh |
| SANGRAM (Sangathita Gramunnyan Karmasuchi/Organized Village Development Program) | Bangladesh |
| SKS Foundation | Bangladesh |
| Solidarity from Young Power in Social Action (YPSA) | Bangladesh |
| Somaj Unnoyan Karjocrom- SUK | Bangladesh |
| Unnayan Sangha (US) | Bangladesh |
| Uttara Development Program Society (UDPS) | Bangladesh |
| Action communautaire pour le Bien être de l’Enfant et de la Femme au Burkina (ABEFAB) | Burkina Faso |
| Organization to Develop Our Villages (ODOV) | Cambodia |
| Tekdeysovanphum Organization (TDSP) | Cambodia |
| Community Education For Life – CEFLife | Cameroon |
| PUBLIC CONCERN | Cameroon |
| REWAC | Cameroon |
| CRGR -Central America network on DRR | Central America |
| CORPOCAMINAR | Colombia |
| Fundacion Halü | Colombia |
| Fundacion SAHED | Colombia |
| Union pour la Promotion/Protection, la Défense des Droits Humains et de l’Environnement en sigle UPDDHE | Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) |
| Gervais YADE | DRC |
| Laissez L’Afrique Vivre “LAV” | DRC |
| The Bureau d’informations Formations Échanges et Recherches pour le Développement ” BIFERD | DRC |
| CORDES | El Salvador |
| CRIPDES | El Salvador |
| FUMA | El Salvador |
| PRO-VIDA | El Salvador |
| Community Initiatives Facilitations and Assistance (CIFA) | Ethiopia |
| Taaluf Humanitarian International Organization | European Union |
| ACCSS | Guatemala |
| ADAM | Guatemala |
| ASECSA | Guatemala |
| ASEDE | Guatemala |
| ADEPES | Honduras |
| OCDIH | Honduras |
| Dompet Dhuafa Republika Foundation | Indonesia |
| Forum Zakat Beranda – Rumah Besar Gerakan Zakat Indonesia | Indonesia |
| Human Initiative | Indonesia |
| Indonesian Development and Humanitarian Alliance (IDHA) | Indonesia |
| Nurul Hayat | Indonesia |
| POROZ ( Perkumpulan Organisasi Pengelola Zakat) | Indonesia |
| Pujiono Centre Indonesia | Indonesia |
| Baghdad Women’s Association | Iraq |
| Charité Humanitarian Organization, Nineveh | Iraq |
| Darya Organization for Developing Women and Community | Iraq |
| De Raya Organization for the Development of Women and Society | Iraq |
| Iraqi Youth Solidarity League Organization | Iraq |
| Jaff Democracy and Human Rights Watch Network | Iraq |
| No Borders Humanity Organization (NBH) | Iraq |
| Pekawa Organization for Humanitarian Services and Environmental Development | Iraq |
| Pena Center for Combating Violence Against Women | Iraq |
| Sahara Economic Development Organization (SEDO) | Iraq |
| Sorouh for Sustainable Development Foundation (SSDF) | Iraq |
| STEP Organization for Democracy and Elections | Iraq |
| Forum for Women in Development and Justice | Kenya |
| Access Center for Human Rights (ACHR) | Lebanon |
| Al-Mobader Association | Lebanon |
| Bassma Association | Lebanon |
| Insan Association | Lebanon |
| Irshad & Islah Association | Lebanon |
| Youth Net and Counselling (YONECO) | Malawi |
| The Cross Regional Center for Refugees and Migrants (CCRM) | MENA |
| DEPROSC-Nepal | Nepal |
| DiMaNN – National Disaster Management Network | Nepal |
| DPNet – Disaster Preparedness Network | Nepal |
| Forum for Awareness and Youth Activity Nepal (FAYA) | Nepal |
| Forum for Community Upliftment System Nepal (FOCUS-Nepal) | Nepal |
| Integrated Community Development Campaign (ICDC) | Nepal |
| Lumanti Support Group for Shelter | Nepal |
| National Society for Earthquake Technology (NSET) | Nepal |
| PACE | Nepal |
| Goreto Gorkha | Nepal Focus |
| FECODESA | Nicaragua |
| Building Blocks for Peace Foundation | Nigeria |
| Bright Star Development Society Balochistan (BSDSB) | Pakistan |
| Community Development Foundation CDF | Pakistan |
| Fast Rural Development Program (FRDP) | Pakistan |
| Health And Nutrition Development Society – HANDS | Pakistan |
| HELP Foundation | Pakistan |
| Integrated Rural Awareness & Development Organization IRADO | Pakistan |
| National Humanitarian Network (NHN) Pakistan | Pakistan |
| Pak Mission Society (PMS) | Pakistan |
| Sangtani Women Rural Development Organization (SWRDO) | Pakistan |
| SHIFA Welfare Association-SHIFA | Pakistan |
| Society for Mobilization Advocacy and Justice (SMAAJ) | Pakistan |
| Veer development Organization (VDO) | Pakistan |
| Center for Disaster Preparedness (CDP) | Philippines |
| Kaisa Ka | Philippines |
| Action for Women and Children Concern (AWCC) Somalia | Somalia |
| Centre for Peace and Democracy (CPD) | Somalia |
| Save Somali Women and Children (SSWC) | Somalia |
| Somaliland National Disability Federation | Somalia |
| TAAKULO | Somalia |
| Wajir South Development Association (WASDA) | Somalia |
| Amalna South Sudan (AMSS) | South Sudan |
| Assistance Mission for Africa (AMA) | South Sudan |
| CHIDDO | South Sudan |
| PEOPLE’S INITIATIVE DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION (PIDO) | South Sudan |
| BINAA Organization for Development | Syria |
| Hand In Hand for Aid & Development – HIHFAD | Syria |
| Horan Foundation – HF | Syria |
| Malath Humanitarian Organization | Syria |
| Salam Humanitarian Foundation (SHF) | Syria |
| Space Of Peace (SOP) | Syria |
| Syrian expatriate doctors Association | Syria |
| Syrian Networks League ( SNL ) | Syria |
| Voices for Displaced Syrians Forum (VDSF) | Syria |
| Women’s Protection Network (WPN) | Syria |
| Hope Revival Organization | Turkey |
| Maram Foundation for Relief and Development | Türkiye |
| Support to Life | Türkiye |
| Violet NGO | Türkiye |
| YUVA | Türkiye |
| International Humanitarian Relief – IHR | Türkiye/ Syria/Lebanon |
| Al-Sham Humanitarian Foundation | Türkiye/Syria |
| Elaf for Relief and Development | Türkiye/Syria |
| PAC PHYSICIANS ACROSS CONTINENTS TURKEY | Türkiye/Syria |
| Rahma Worldwide | Türkiye/Syria |
| Seeds of Hope Foundation | Türkiye/Syria |
| Takaful Al Sham (TAS) | Türkiye/Syria |
| WATAN | Türkiye/Syria |
| Glory of the Later House Foundation | Uganda |
| Munguchi Medical Center | Uganda |
| FUDEP | Venezuela |
| Abs Development Organization for Woman & Children | Yemen |
| Al-Hayat Foundation for Training and Human Development | Yemen |
| Al-Qudsi/Forcibly Displaced Foundation for Development and Rights | Yemen |
| Al-Tarahum Medical Foundation | Yemen |
| Alii Future Society | Yemen |
| Best Foundation for Development (AFD) | Yemen |
| Democracy School | Yemen |
| Humanitarian Work Library | Yemen |
| Medical Mercy Foundation | Yemen |
| Mohammed Alameri – Enqath Foundation for Development | Yemen |
| Nabd Organization for Development and Development | Yemen |
| Network supporting Localization and Improvement of Response Mechanisms | Yemen |
| Ola Almajd Foundation for Development OMD-Y | Yemen |
| Sada Foundation for Construction and Development | Yemen |
| Save Foundation for Development | Yemen |
| Sustainable Development Foundation (SDF) | Yemen |
| Tamdeen Youth Foundation (TYF) | Yemen |
| Tariro Foundation of Zimbabwe | Zimbabwe |
| NAME | COUNTRY |
| Afghanistan National Urban and Rural Development Organization (ANURDO) | Afghanistan |
| Assalam Welfare Foundation | Afghanistan |
| Citizens Organization for Advocacy and Resilience (COAR) | Afghanistan |
| Civil Society Empowerment Network – CEN | Afghanistan |
| Seahum (Southeast Asia Humanitarian Committee) | ASEAN region |
| Association For Alternative Development (AFAD) | Bangladesh |
| Barokupot Ganochetona Foundation-BGF | Bangladesh |
| Chilmari Distressed Development Foundation (CDDF) | Bangladesh |
| Dhaka Ahsania Mission (DAM) | Bangladesh |
| DWIP UNNAYAN SONGSTHA (DUS) Dwip Unnayan Sangstha (dusbangladesh.org) | Bangladesh |
| Efforts for Rural Advancement (ERA) | Bangladesh |
| Garib Unnayan Sangstha (GUS) | Bangladesh |
| Light House | Bangladesh |
| Nabolok Parishad | Bangladesh |
| National Alliance of Humanitarian Actors Bangladesh (NAHAB) National Alliance of Humanitarian Actors, Bangladesh (nahab.net) | Bangladesh |
| National Development Programme (NDP) | Bangladesh |
| National Development Programme (NDP) | Bangladesh |
| Prattasha Samazik Unnayan Sangstha (PSUS) | Bangladesh |
| Rural Society Development Association (RSDA) | Bangladesh |
| SANGRAM (Sangathita Gramunnyan Karmasuchi/Organized Village Development Program) | Bangladesh |
| SKS Foundation | Bangladesh |
| Solidarity from Young Power in Social Action (YPSA) | Bangladesh |
| Somaj Unnoyan Karjocrom- SUK | Bangladesh |
| Unnayan Sangha (US) | Bangladesh |
| Uttara Development Program Society (UDPS) | Bangladesh |
| Action communautaire pour le Bien être de l’Enfant et de la Femme au Burkina (ABEFAB) | Burkina Faso |
| Organization to Develop Our Villages (ODOV) | Cambodia |
| Tekdeysovanphum Organization (TDSP) | Cambodia |
| Community Education For Life – CEFLife | Cameroon |
| PUBLIC CONCERN | Cameroon |
| REWAC | Cameroon |
| CRGR -Central America network on DRR | Central America |
| CORPOCAMINAR | Colombia |
| Fundacion Halü | Colombia |
| Fundacion SAHED | Colombia |
| Union pour la Promotion/Protection, la Défense des Droits Humains et de l’Environnement en sigle UPDDHE | Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) |
| Gervais YADE | DRC |
| Laissez L’Afrique Vivre “LAV” | DRC |
| The Bureau d’informations Formations Échanges et Recherches pour le Développement ” BIFERD | DRC |
| CORDES | El Salvador |
| CRIPDES | El Salvador |
| FUMA | El Salvador |
| PRO-VIDA | El Salvador |
| Community Initiatives Facilitations and Assistance (CIFA) | Ethiopia |
| Taaluf Humanitarian International Organization | European Union |
| ACCSS | Guatemala |
| ADAM | Guatemala |
| ASECSA | Guatemala |
| ASEDE | Guatemala |
| ADEPES | Honduras |
| OCDIH | Honduras |
| Dompet Dhuafa Republika Foundation Dompet Dhuafa – National Amil Zakat Institute | Indonesia |
| Forum Zakat Beranda – Rumah Besar Gerakan Zakat Indonesia (forumzakat.org) | Indonesia |
| Human Initiative | Indonesia |
| Indonesian Development and Humanitarian Alliance (IDHA) | Indonesia |
| Nurul Hayat Amil Zakat Nurul Hayat | Indonesia |
| POROZ ( Perkumpulan Organisasi Pengelola Zakat) | Indonesia |
| Pujiono Centre Indonesia | Indonesia |
| Baghdad Women’s Association | Iraq |
| Charité Humanitarian Organization, Nineveh | Iraq |
| Darya Organization for Developing Women and Community | Iraq |
| De Raya Organization for the Development of Women and Society | Iraq |
| Dijla Agricultural Association (DAA) | Iraq |
| Iraqi Youth Solidarity League Organization | Iraq |
| Jaff Democracy and Human Rights Watch Network | Iraq |
| No Borders Humanity Organization (NBH) | Iraq |
| Pekawa Organization for Humanitarian Services and Environmental Development | Iraq |
| Pena Center for Combating Violence Against Women | Iraq |
| Sahara Economic Development Organization (SEDO) | Iraq |
| Shareteah Humanitarian Organization (SHO) | Iraq |
| Sorouh for Sustainable Development Foundation (SSDF) | Iraq |
| STEP Organization for Democracy and Elections | Iraq |
| Forum for Women in Development and Justice | Kenya |
| Access Center for Human Rights (ACHR) | Lebanon |
| Al-Mobader Association | Lebanon |
| Bassma Association | Lebanon |
| Insan Association | Lebanon |
| Irshad & Islah Association | Lebanon |
| Youth Net and Counselling (YONECO) | Malawi |
| The Cross Regional Center for Refugees and Migrants (CCRM) | MENA |
| DEPROSC-Nepal | Nepal |
| DiMaNN – National Disaster Management Network | Nepal |
| DPNet – Disaster Preparedness Network | Nepal |
| Forum for Awareness and Youth Activity Nepal (FAYA) | Nepal |
| Forum for Community Upliftment System Nepal (FOCUS-Nepal) | Nepal |
| Integrated Community Development Campaign (ICDC) | Nepal |
| Lumanti Support Group for Shelter | Nepal |
| National Society for Earthquake Technology (NSET) | Nepal |
| PACE | Nepal |
| Goreto Gorkha | Nepal Focus |
| FECODESA | Nicaragua |
| Building Blocks for Peace Foundation | Nigeria |
| Bright Star Development Society Balochistan (BSDSB) | Pakistan |
| Community Development Foundation CDF | Pakistan |
| Fast Rural Development Program (FRDP) | Pakistan |
| Health And Nutrition Development Society – HANDS | Pakistan |
| HELP Foundation | Pakistan |
| Integrated Rural Awareness & Development Organization IRADO | Pakistan |
| National Humanitarian Network (NHN) Pakistan National Humanitarian Network Pakistan (nhnpakistan.org) | Pakistan |
| Pak Mission Society (PMS) | Pakistan |
| Sangtani Women Rural Development Organization (SWRDO) | Pakistan |
| SHIFA Welfare Association-SHIFA | Pakistan |
| Society for Mobilization Advocacy and Justice (SMAAJ) | Pakistan |
| Veer development Organization (VDO) | Pakistan |
| Center for Disaster Preparedness (CDP) | Philippines |
| Kaisa Ka | Philippines |
| Action for Women and Children Concern (AWCC) Somalia | Somalia |
| Centre for Peace and Democracy (CPD) | Somalia |
| Save Somali Women and Children (SSWC) | Somalia |
| Somaliland National Disability Federation | Somalia |
| TAAKULO | Somalia |
| Wajir South Development Association (WASDA) | Somalia |
| Amalna South Sudan (AMSS) | South Sudan |
| Assistance Mission for Africa (AMA) | South Sudan |
| CHIDDO | South Sudan |
| PEOPLE’S INITIATIVE DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION (PIDO) | South Sudan |
| BINAA Organization for Development | Syria |
| Hand In Hand for Aid & Development – HIHFAD | Syria |
| Horan Foundation – HF | Syria |
| Malath Humanitarian Organization | Syria |
| Salam Humanitarian Foundation (SHF) | Syria |
| Space Of Peace (SOP) | Syria |
| Syrian expatriate doctors Association | Syria |
| Syrian Networks League ( SNL ) | Syria |
| Voices for Displaced Syrians Forum (VDSF) | Syria |
| Women’s Protection Network (WPN) | Syria |
| Hope Revival Organization | Turkey |
| Maram Foundation for Relief and Development | Türkiye |
| Support to Life | Türkiye |
| Violet NGO | Türkiye |
| YUVA | Türkiye |
| International Humanitarian Relief – IHR | Türkiye/ Syria/Lebanon |
| Al-Sham Humanitarian Foundation | Türkiye/Syria |
| Elaf for Relief and Development | Türkiye/Syria |
| PAC PHYSICIANS ACROSS CONTINENTS TURKEY | Türkiye/Syria |
| Rahma Worldwide | Türkiye/Syria |
| Seeds of Hope Foundation | Türkiye/Syria |
| Takaful Al Sham (TAS) | Türkiye/Syria |
| WATAN | Türkiye/Syria |
| Glory of the Later House Foundation | Uganda |
| Munguchi Medical Center | Uganda |
| FUDEP | Venezuela |
| Abs Development Organization for Woman & Children | Yemen |
| Al-Hayat Foundation for Training and Human Development | Yemen |
| Al-Qudsi/Forcibly Displaced Foundation for Development and Rights | Yemen |
| Al-Tarahum Medical Foundation | Yemen |
| Alii Future Society | Yemen |
| Best Foundation for Development (AFD) | Yemen |
| Democracy School | Yemen |
| Humanitarian Work Library | Yemen |
| Medical Mercy Foundation | Yemen |
| Mohammed Alameri – Enqath Foundation for Development | Yemen |
| Nabd Organization for Development and Development | Yemen |
| Network supporting Localization and Improvement of Response Mechanisms | Yemen |
| Ola Almajd Foundation for Development OMD-Y | Yemen |
| Sada Foundation for Construction and Development | Yemen |
| Save Foundation for Development | Yemen |
| Sustainable Development Foundation (SDF) | Yemen |
| Tamdeen Youth Foundation (TYF) | Yemen |
| Tariro Foundation of Zimbabwe | Zimbabwe |