Australian billionaire Andrew ‘Twiggy’ Forrest has called on other philanthropists and big business to respond to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, today pledging a further $18 million through his Minderoo Foundation.
$7.3 million will be provided to support World Central Kitchen’s work in Gaza, funding more than 1.5 million meals, and another $7.3 million will be provided to the UN World Food Programme (WFP).
$3.6 million will be provided to the Palestinian Water Authority (PWA), UNICEF and others working to deliver water and sanitation infrastructure across Gaza.
READ MORE: Australia pledges another $10 million to Gaza, West Bank amid ‘catastrophic’ humanitarian crisis
Since 7 October 2023, the escalating crisis in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory has caused more than 41,000 civilian deaths and 96,000 injuries, and a lack of medical supplies, food, water and fuel have depleted an already under-resourced health system, according to the World Health Organization.
“Minderoo Foundation will not sit on its hands while children starve to death,” Forrest said in a statement.
“We are one of few philanthropies in Australia giving to the humanitarian needs in Gaza.
“We want to see the philanthropic and private sector respond more strongly to the humanitarian needs in Gaza.”
World Central Kitchen has delivered 70 million meals to Palestinians since October 7.
The UN World Food Programme delivers food parcels to families in shelters, supports bakeries, and provides hot meals and specialised nutritional products for mothers and children.
READ MORE: ‘Sitting and waiting to die’: Australian teacher stranded in Lebanon
Nicola Forrest said the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza demanded swift action.
“It is heartbreaking to see the suffering of civilians in Gaza, especially children, who suffer disproportionately as innocent victims of conflict,” she said.
About 1.8 million people in Gaza, including 900,000 children, require humanitarian water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) assistance, according to UNICEF.
“The lack of clean water and safe sanitation is on the verge of becoming a catastrophe,” UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell told the UN Security Council last year.
“Unless access to clean water is urgently restored, more civilians, including children, will fall ill or die from dehydration or waterborne diseases.”
The funding announced today brings the Minderoo Foundation’s humanitarian support in Gaza to nearly $41 million (US$28 million) since October 2023.
Forrest has called for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in the region.
Forrest was named Australia’s second wealthiest person last year in the Australian Financial Review 2023 Rich List, but dropped to number eight in this year’s edition.
In 2013, he and his then-wife Nicola pledged to give away the majority of their wealth to philanthropic causes.
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