Rome, Italy, Dec 16, 2009 / 12:02 pm (CNA).- Since January of this year, Caritas Jerusalem has worked untiringly to assist more than 10,000 families in the Gaza Strip, providing food, water, shelter and medicine. In order to sustain its efforts, the organization has raised more than $2 million.

According to the Fides news agency, these families are given assistance despite restrictions enforced by the Israeli army, which only allow certain medical products and a select list of items to be imported into the area.

Caritas Jerusalem also helps with the rehabilitation of the wounded by providing prosthetics and wheelchairs, reaching out to the more than 1,000 people who have been left handicapped by the war.

Fides also noted that these patients have shown “a renewed enthusiasm for life and for returning to their activities in order to contribute to their families.”

The work of Caritas “is also essential because it restores hope to the hard-hit population of Gaza.”

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