Andrew and Nicola Forrest’s Minderoo Foundation has pledged a further $10 million in humanitarian aid to Gaza, bringing its total aid to the war-torn region since 2023 to $51 million.
The Minderoo Foundation has pledged a further $10 million in humanitarian aid to Gaza, bringing its total aid to the war-torn region since 2023 to $51 million.
Minderoo, the state’s largest philanthropic organisation founded by Andrew and Nicola Forrest, announced the rapid response package in a statement today.
The $10 million in aid was created in alignment with the United Nations’ 60-Day Plan.
Minderoo said the aid package would target “scaling up aid delivery, reversing acute malnutrition, reconnecting water supplies, restarting education, and restoring healthcare during these critical early weeks after months of deprivation”.
It will be delivered in coordination with the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, UNICEF and Medicins Sans Frontieres.
In a joint statement with UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator Tom Fletcher, Mr Forrest said efforts were ramping up as humanitarian access was restored.
“Minderoo is committing a further $10 million to support the United Nations’ 60-Day Plan – with an urgent focus on care environments for Palestinian children and the huge psycho-social needs caused by the war,” Mr Forrest said.
As well as children, Ms Forrest added women and those displaced by Israel-Palestine conflict would also be the focus of the package.
“Health and education are the building blocks of a child’s future,” she said.
“Minderoo Foundation is acting now to relieve the impacts of malnutrition, trauma and ensure education does not await bricks and mortar reconstruction.”
UNICEF (the United Nations Children’s Fund) will be among those supported by the package, after the UN agency estimated a further $281.1 million ($186 million USD) is needed over the next three months for essential services including nutrition, water, sanitation, education, and mental health.
“This contribution builds on Minderoo Foundation’s steadfast support for the vital work UNICEF is carrying out in Gaza alongside our local partners,” UNICEF executive director Catherine Russell said.
“Having stood with us since the beginning of this humanitarian emergency, Minderoo’s partnership makes it possible to bring hope and support to children and families in desperate need.”
MSF will also receive a portion of the funding to go towards the emergency care service’s delivery of malnutrition screen and therapeutic feeding centres in Gaza.
“Minderoo’s latest contribution aims to bridge the gap between emergency relief and longer-term recovery,” Minderoo said in the statement.
“The package is designed to provide immediate, flexible funding to stabilise acute humanitarian needs during the fragile ceasefire period, with a focus on critical gaps not being met by national contributions.
“It prioritises throughput of aid delivery, restoration of basic infrastructure and services to address malnutrition and trauma experienced across the community and to restart education programs.
“The package will be delivered through a mix of UN agencies and trusted local partners to ensure reach and impact across both northern and southern Gaza.”
As a part of the 60-Day Plan, the UN is pushing a concerted effort with its partners to scale up humanitarian responses as the ceasefire continues.
