Aoecs Helping Hand3

AOECS CENTRAL EMERGENCY FUND

THE AOECS EMERGENCY INITIATIVE FOR GAZA

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The AOECS Emergency Initiative for Gaza

People with coeliac disease in Gaza are facing an acute and life-threatening humanitarian crisis. In response, AOECS has established the Emergency Initiative for Gaza to help ensure access to gluten-free food for people with coeliac disease.

Coeliac disease is an autoimmune condition for which a strict gluten-free diet is the only treatment. Without access to safe, gluten-free food, the body cannot absorb nutrients, leading rapidly to severe malnutrition, particularly in children.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza has severely restricted access to gluten-free food. Families report extended periods without safe staple foods, while fruits, vegetables and sources of protein are scarce, unaffordable or unavailable. For individuals with coeliac disease, the lack of gluten-free food is not only a matter of hunger, but also of serious medical consequences.

How to donate
Middle East Soup Kitchen

How the funds will be used

All funds raised through the Emergency Fund will be used exclusively to support people with coeliac disease in Gaza if you mark your donation “Initiative for Gaza.”

Depending on operational feasibility and security conditions, funds may be used to:

  • Procure safe gluten-free food supplies suitable for people with coeliac disease

  • Support targeted food distributions to registered coeliac patients

  • Cover logistics, packaging and transport costs related to gluten-free aid

  • Explore the feasibility of dedicated gluten-free shelter or cooking facilities, where safe food preparation can be ensured and cross-contamination avoided

The use of funds will follow clear terms of reference and will be continuously reviewed based on needs on the ground and access conditions.

Aoecs Gaza Relief2

How aid reaches people with coeliac disease in Gaza

The delivery and distribution process involves:

  • Coordination by the Jordanian Coeliac Association, led by local experts who are in direct contact with non-governmental organisations operating on the ground and have knowledge of registered patients.

  • Active support from the Italian Celiac Association, with previous experience in assisting celiacs in emergency settings, and technical capacity to assess the nutritional needs of the coeliac population in Gaza and to identify appropriate food and medical aid.

  • Shipment of approved gluten-free supplies from Jordan to Gaza through established humanitarian channels, including UNICEF

  • Notification of registered coeliac patients, who are informed when and where they can safely collect their allocated food rations

  • Distribution methods that respect dignity, privacy and security, while ensuring traceability and accountability

Where possible, anonymised documentation (such as photographs or confirmations of delivery) will be used to demonstrate that aid has reached its intended recipients, while fully respecting the safety and privacy of beneficiaries.

Refugee Camp

Who coordinates the initiative

The AOECS Emergency Initiative for People with Coeliac Disease in Gaza is established and overseen by Association of European Coeliac Societies (AOECS).

AOECS works in partnership with:

  • The Jordanian Coeliac Association

  • The Italian Celiac Association

  • Local coordinators in the region

  • International humanitarian actors involved in logistics and delivery

AOECS ensures governance, transparency and communication with donors, while local partners manage on-the-ground implementation.

Huda Square

Huda’s story and why it matters

The AOECS Emergency Initiative for Gaza highlights the story of Huda, an eight-year-old girl with coeliac disease who died from severe malnutrition after being unable to access appropriate gluten-free food.

She represents not only a tragic individual loss, but the many children and adults in Gaza whose condition remains invisible in general humanitarian responses.

People with coeliac disease are especially vulnerable in humanitarian crises, as their only treatment is a strict gluten-free diet. When safe gluten-free food is unavailable, this can quickly lead to serious health consequences.

By sharing Huda’s story, AOECS aims to draw attention to the urgent need to ensure that people with coeliac disease in Gaza receive safe gluten-free food as part of humanitarian assistance.

How can you support

Companies and private individuals may send their donations directly to AOECS using the following bank details:

Beneficiary’s account name: AOECS
Bank name: KBC Banque, Brussels,
IBAN: BE66 7360 3218 2543
SWIFTBIC: KREDBEBB
Explanation: “Initiative for Gaza”