In moments of need, our support ensures that help reaches those who are most vulnerable. Together, we can respond to crises and foster resilience in communities worldwide.
Hati saya turut berduka cita kepada semua orang yang terdampak konflik akibat perang antarnegara. Kehancuran, kehilangan, dan penderitaan yang ditimbulkan sungguh tak terbayangkan, dan sungguh memilukan melihat begitu banyak kehidupan yang dijungkirbalikkan oleh kekuatan di luar kendali mereka.
Di masa-masa sulit ini, menunjukkan belas kasih dan solidaritas menjadi semakin penting. Saya ingin menyampaikan simpati terdalam saya kepada semua orang yang telah kehilangan orang terkasih, rumah, dan rasa aman mereka.
Jika ada kontak atau organisasi yang bisa saya hubungi, mohon berikan. Saya siap membantu semampu saya.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- My heart goes out to everyone affected by conflicts caused by countries fighting each other. The devastation, loss, and suffering are unimaginable, and it's heartbreaking to see so many lives turned upside down by forces beyond their control.
In these dark times, it's more important than ever to show compassion and solidarity. I want to extend my deepest sympathies to all those who have lost loved ones, homes, and their sense of security.
If there is a contact or organization I can reach out to, please provide it. I am ready to offer my assistance in any way I can.
As the Israeli government’s siege starves the people of Gaza, aid workers are now joining the same food lines, risking being shot just to feed their families. With supplies now totally depleted, humanitarian organisations are witnessing their colleagues and partners waste away before their eyes. More than 100 organisations are sounding the alarm to allow in life-saving aid.
Displaced Gazans searching for safety. Photograph: Jaber Jehad Badwan
Exactly two months since the Israeli government-controlled scheme, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, began operating, organisations are urging governments to act: open all land crossings; restore the full flow of food, clean water, medical supplies, shelter items, and fuel through a principled, UN-led mechanism; end the siege, and agree to a ceasefire now.
‘Each morning, the same question echoes across Gaza: Will I eat today?’ said one agency representative.
Massacres at food distribution sites in Gaza are occurring near-daily. As of July 13, the UN confirmed 875 Palestinians were killed while seeking food, 201 on aid routes and the rest at distribution points. Thousands more have been injured.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces have forcibly displaced nearly two million exhausted Palestinians with the most recent mass displacement order issued on July 20, confining Palestinians to less than 12 per cent of Gaza. WFP warns that current conditions make operations untenable. The starvation of civilians as a method of warfare is a war crime.
Just outside Gaza, in warehouses – and even within Gaza itself – tons of food, clean water, medical supplies, shelter items and fuel sit untouched with humanitarian organisations blocked from accessing or delivering them. The Government of Israel’s restrictions, delays, and fragmentation under its total siege have created chaos, starvation, and death. An aid worker providing psychosocial support spoke of the devastating impact on children: ‘Children tell their parents they want to go to heaven, because at least there will be food.’
Doctors report record rates of acute malnutrition, especially among children and older people. Illnesses like acute watery diarrhoea are spreading, markets are empty, waste is piling up, and adults are collapsing on the streets from hunger and dehydration.
Distributions in Gaza average just 28 trucks a day, far from enough for over two million people, many of whom have gone weeks without assistance.
The UN-led humanitarian system has not failed; it has been prevented from functioning.
Humanitarian agencies have the capacity and supplies to respond at scale. But, with access denied, we are blocked from reaching those in need, including our own exhausted and starved teams.
On July 10, the EU and Israel announced steps to scale up aid. But these promises of ‘progress’ ring hollow when there is no real change on the ground. Every day without a sustained flow means more people dying of preventable illnesses. Children starve while waiting for promises that never arrive.
Palestinians are trapped in a cycle of hope and heartbreak, waiting for assistance and ceasefires, only to wake up to worsening conditions. It is not just physical torment, but psychological. Survival is dangled like a mirage.
The humanitarian system cannot run on false promises. Humanitarians cannot operate on shifting timelines or wait for political commitments that fail to deliver access.
Governments must stop waiting for permission to act. We cannot continue to hope that current arrangements will work. It is time to take decisive action: demand an immediate and permanent ceasefire; lift all bureaucratic and administrative restrictions; open all land crossings; ensure access to everyone in all of Gaza; reject military-controlled distribution models; restore a principled, UN-led humanitarian response and continue to fund principled and impartial humanitarian organisations.
States must pursue concrete measures to end the siege, such as halting the transfer of weapons and ammunition.
Piecemeal arrangements and symbolic gestures, like airdrops or flawed aid deals, serve as a smokescreen for inaction. They cannot replace states’ legal and moral obligations to protect Palestinian civilians and ensure meaningful access at scale. States can and must save lives before there are none left to save.
People waiting in line at a humanitarian distribution point in Farsi District.
Last month, Sin Haeng Humanitarian Foundation concluded a vital winterisation distribution in one of Herat’s most remote and underserved districts. Besides providing warmth, this humanitarian effort in the Farsi District, supported by the Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund, also restored dignity and reconnected those who have been long cut off.
Nestled deep within forested mountains, about 230 kilometres from Herat city, Farsi District is home to communities that face long-standing isolation, ongoing poverty, and harsh winters. For many residents, the cold season is not just uncomfortable but life-threatening.
Blocked Roads and Bitter Cold
Farsi’s harsh winters and lack of essential infrastructure have claimed countless lives over the years, including pregnant women, newborns and the elderly. The unpaved and treacherous roads connecting the district to Herat become impassable during snowfall or heavy rains, leaving entire villages cut off from food, medicine and emergency support.
Against this stark backdrop, Sin-Haeng Foundation’s winterisation team launched a project that did more than offer material relief; it delivered a renewed sense of dignity, hope, and human connection to communities that often feel forgotten.
Reaching Thousands with Cash and Blankets
Sin-Haeng Foundation successfully assisted 1,030 families (a total of 7,777 individuals) across 27 villages. The intervention prioritised those living in the most precarious conditions: widows and female-headed households, people with disabilities, the chronically ill, and those impacted by extreme poverty or natural disasters. Over 25 per cent of the families reached were headed by women.
Each household received a cash grant of 18,826 Afghanis (approximately USD 264), allowing them to purchase heating fuel, warm clothing, or other seasonal necessities. In addition, every family was given five blankets, totalling 5,150 blankets distributed throughout the area.
Collaboration and Trust
What distinguished this project was not only its capacity to navigate the region’s rugged terrain but also its implementation, conducted in full collaboration with local leaders, government officials, religious figures, and civil society actors.
Every stage, from identifying beneficiaries to final delivery, was carried out with transparency and community involvement. This approach not only guaranteed that assistance reached those most in need but also helped strengthen the bond between humanitarian actors and the communities they serve.
Local elders and officials described the operation as timely and life-saving, praising the integrity of the distribution and the inclusivity of the selection process. For many, this was the first time they felt genuinely seen and supported during the most difficult time of the year.
Just in Time
One elderly woman from Safidan said, ‘Each winter I would wrap my grandchildren in old rags to protect them from the cold, and this year, for the first time in many winters, they will sleep warm’.
Another widow shared her experience: ‘I was preparing to sell my only goat to buy fuel, until the cash assistance arrived just in time’.
Community members also spoke candidly about the dangers of the route from Farsi to Herat, particularly during the snow season. With roads blocked and mobility cut off, even survival essentials become unreachable. Many said the assistance didn’t just meet their practical needs, it gave them a sense that someone, somewhere, cared.
The world knows that an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding in Gaza. More than 1.7 million people have been displaced, and 91% of the population is experiencing acute food insecurity. The desperation grows by the day.
A man in a bombed street in Gaza. Image: FMT/CC BY 4.0
Sin-Haeng Foundation is providing emergency relief in Gaza with partners such as Caritas Jerusalem and DanChurchAid (DCA). These organisations have dozens of staff in the heart of the conflict zone, distributing food and water, providing medical aid, and offering psychological support, under appalling conditions.
We spoke with our humanitarian expert, Laurens den Dulk, who collaborates closely with colleagues on the ground, about the harrowing situation and the moral duty to speak out.
Food Shortages
‘Over the past three months, virtually no food has entered Gaza,’ says Den Dulk. ‘There were still some reserves in warehouses, which were distributed among aid organisations. But as the scarcity worsened, rations had to be halved or were distributed less frequently. It has become a matter of survival.’
Recently, a new aid initiative—the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, established by Israel and the US—has begun allowing small numbers of trucks into the area. ‘But the volume is far too low,’ Den Dulk states. ‘What’s more, it’s completely unclear what exactly is coming in, who is distributing it, and under what conditions. This violates international humanitarian law, which dictates that emergency aid must be provided unconditionally and independently.’
A mine awareness raising session for children organised by one of Sin-Haeng’s partners in a refugee camp in northern Gaza. Photograph: DCA/NCA
A Climate of Fear
According to Den Dulk, a fearful atmosphere hangs over local partner organisations in the region. ‘There is a very real concern that Gaza might soon cease to exist altogether. That the entire population will be driven out. That means we would be witnessing an ethnic cleansing of two million people. There are rumours that Egypt is preparing to take in hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in the Sinai Desert. Other reports suggest deportations to Saudi Arabia or Jordan. But the idea that Gaza could vanish is so grotesque that people can hardly imagine how one would even begin to prepare for it.’
The Silent Majority
As this unfolds before the world’s eyes, Den Dulk is struck by the relative silence in the Netherlands. ‘Yes, there have been demonstrations, and some organisations have spoken out. But there’s still a silent majority. People are afraid to take sides, fearing they will be drawn into a political debate. But this shouldn’t be about politics—it should be about humanity.’
Even aid organisations are grappling with this issue. Nevertheless, Den Dulk urges everyone to speak up. ‘It’s not enough to sympathise in silence. Speak out! Not necessarily in support of one side or against another, but against what is happening here: the deliberate starvation of a population, the shooting of crowds trying to reach aid convoys, the wilful denial of human suffering.
Laurens Den Dulk (left) during a meeting with Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the patriarch of the Roman Catholic Church in Jerusalem. Photo: Mickael Franci/Sin Haeng
‘International humanitarian law was created precisely to prevent situations like this. If starving people at a food distribution point are being shot, or if aid workers are killed, humanitarian law is failing.’
A ‘man-made’ crisis
This is not an ‘ordinary’ humanitarian crisis, says Den Dulk, who has witnessed many during his years as an experienced coordinator of emergency relief projects. ‘This crisis is man-made. If the borders were opened tomorrow, the famine would end. It’s that horrifyingly simple. The only correct response is: this must not be allowed. We must continually remind ourselves of this important principle. Again and again.’
We cherish our loyal base of more than 280,000 private donors from the World. Among them are; Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Embassy of Kingdom of the Netherlands, Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland, Nationale Postcode Loterij, UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, Global Fund, World Bank, Mastercard Foundation, UN Agencies, and European Commission.
Worldwide partner network
Sin-Haeng Humanitarian Foundation stands with women, men, and children whose basic needs are unmet and whose rights are trampled. Starting in the heart of their communities, we build partnerships and mobilise global networks, resources, and knowledge to help people move beyond survival and live in dignity.
We actively participate in thematic and national networks in the countries we work in. These partnerships and alliances enable us to amplify the voice and agency of civil society organisations in our shared local, regional, and global advocacy efforts.
In their daily lives, they search for safety and freedom, shelter, a doctor when needed, an income, and even food for the next day. Their quest is universal: to live in dignity.
Our Vision
Sin Haeng Humanitarian does not accept a world of inequality and exclusion. We believe in a world where everyone can live a life of dignity. Where people can break through barriers of poverty and exclusion, fully participate in their societies, and influence decisions that affect them. A world with an economy not driven by greed and limitless material growth, but by inclusivity, social and ecological justice, and gender equity. A sustainable world to pass on to future generations. That world is our goal. We work towards it in everything we do
Our Mission
Inspired by Christian values, we believe in the power of people to trigger inclusive social change in their own environment. We seek to strengthen the capacities and resilience of the people and communities we work with so they are better prepared to face their future challenges. Our responsibility and accountability lie with those who are poor, marginalised, and excluded from safety, services, economic opportunity, and sustainable livelihoods. We actively seek increased collaboration and synergies with like-minded organisations while pursuing options to further join forces.
One in 20 people in Bangladesh lives in extreme poverty, lacking access to basic services such as food, health care, education and the resources to build sustainable livelihoods. The country is hosting over one million refugees and the agricultural sector is severely impacted by climate change.
Sin Haeng has been working in Bangladesh since 1972, improving the lives and livelihoods of over 3.5 million people. Our context-specific, climate-sensitive approach enables people living in vulnerable situations to progress through a pathway to sustainable livelihood, reduced inequality, and socioeconomic resilience.
SOME OF OUR KEY RESULTS
3.4 million -people supported to increase their income (2024)
3.2 million - people supported with humanitarian assistance (2024)
2.2 million - household supported with improved food security (2024)
WHAT WE DO IN BANGLADESH
Food systems
We work with smallholder farmers in food production, value chain development and private-sector engagement. We also connect farmers to producer groups, aggregation centres, markets and online sales platforms. We support people with climate-smart technologies, including salt-tolerant crops, weather forecasting, disaster preparedness and disaster response. With innovative models for waste management and a circular economy, for example, in refugee communities, we provide robust solutions for environmental challenges.
Sin Haeng also supports small- and medium-sized enterprises by providing business development services and coaching, as well as increasing access to finance and markets. We work closely with the private sector to expand supply chains to remote areas. Through our certified partner organisations, we offer technical and vocational training, as well as educational activities focused on entrepreneurship and leadership development, with a particular emphasis on sustainable employment opportunities.
Health care
We have a strong track record in nutrition, maternal and adolescent health services, universal health coverage, strengthening health facilities and governance systems, and establishing the last-mile distribution of nutritious and hygiene products. To improve sanitation and hygiene, we focus on behaviour change, strengthening local government institutions, entrepreneurship and market-based solutions.
Humanitarian assistance
We employ an innovative approach that focuses on refugees’ self-reliance and fosters social cohesion between them and the host community. Key activities include distributing food, facilitating skills development, connecting refugees and the host community for livelihood opportunities and market access, and upcycling plastic waste.
WHERE WE WORK IN BANGLADESH
Our core programmes span the most remote districts of the coastal zone, including Satkhira, Patuakhali, Khulna, Bagerhat, and Barguna, as well as Humanitarian Response in Cox’s Bazar. We also operate in Dhaka and Narayanganj. Meanwhile, our lobbying and advocacy efforts extend nationwide.
PARTNERS AND DONORS
Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Agriculture Extension, Department of Environment, Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, Office of the Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner, Soil Resource Development Institute, Lal Teer Seeds, A. R Malik Seeds, Meera Seeds, Dutch Agro, Bangladesh Agriculture University, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council, Caritas Bangladesh, CCDB, RDRS, GUK, Dhaka Ahsania Mission, WFP, EU, ECHO, GIZ, FCDO, RVO, Coca-Cola Foundation.
