Confronting the Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza: Lessons from Orientation and Deep Dives

A Gaza City residential tower collapses amid an airstrike on October 9, 2023. The war has leveled entire neighborhoods and inflicted immense civilian suffering (Photo by WAFA/APA Images, CC BY-SA 3.0).

During ARCC orientation and my research deep dives, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza moved me most. The conflict that escalated in late 2023 has had catastrophic civilian consequences:

• Mass casualties: As of August 2025, 61,000+ killed and 151,000+ injured, including thousands of children.
• Displacement: About 90% of residents have been forced from their homes, many multiple times, sheltering in crowded camps or makeshift tents.
• Food/medicine shortages: Famine was declared in parts of Gaza in August 2025; 2.1 million face extreme hunger amid collapsed infrastructure and overwhelmed hospitals.

Reading these accounts was heartbreaking: neighborhoods reduced to rubble, families searching debris, infants treated for starvation. That reality deepened my sense of urgency and responsibility.

A Humanitarian Issue, Not a Political One

At ARCC, we lead with people first and nonpartisan language. We educate and center human dignity. For Gaza, that means focusing on universal rights—safety, food, water, shelter, medical care—rather than partisan debate. Every child deserves a childhood free from violence. Keeping the lens on humanity over geopolitics aligns with our anti-hate values and mission.

I was encouraged that ARCC doesn’t avoid hard topics. Our Community in Action youth team has discussed Israel–Palestine through education and empathy, modeling how to engage complex issues thoughtfully. Anti-racism also means rejecting dehumanization anywhere—our compassion shouldn’t have borders.

Why This Matters to Me—and to ARCC

Gaza underscores why anti-racism work is essential. ARCC’s vision is to build a racism-free world, and its mission is to inspire, educate, and support people to practice and spread anti-racism. Standing with civilians under siege is consistent with that mission: it’s about valuing every human life equally. My role is to raise awareness of crises fueled by othering and indifference, and to help turn education into action—learning, volunteering, supporting vetted relief, and challenging dehumanizing rhetoric.

Moving Forward with Hope and Solidarity

Amid the devastation, I’m inspired by global solidarity and the resilience of affected families. Going forward, I’ll help amplify credible humanitarian updates, keep our storytelling fact-based and people-centered, and ensure our communications stay empathetic and nonpartisan. The lesson I carry from orientation is simple: our humanity is intertwined. This is a call to act with compassion and integrity—exactly what ARCC stands for.