Where has all the Gaza aid money gone? Help us find out

BOSTON, Mass. — Why aren’t donors keeping their promises to thousands of homeless Gazans? Help us find out.

A brutal war last summer killed more than 70 Israelis and 2,000 Gazans. Bombs leveled thousands of Gaza homes, schools and hospitals, shocking the world. In response, donors pledged $5.4 billion in aid, much of it earmarked for rebuilding. But a fraction has been spent, and huge areas of Gaza remain destroyed.

GlobalPost Senior Correspondent Laura Dean’s reporting will hold donors accountable for unkept promises. But we need your help to make it happen. We’ve partnered with Beacon Reader, a crowdfunding site that helps people like you support important journalism projects, to raise the money we need to cover her trip expenses. We’re looking for funders willing to put a few dollars toward making sure this important story gets told.

GP is experimenting with ways to augment our own funding of important stories. We've chosen Gaza as a good place to start for crowdfunding. The suffering there is acute and underreported, and supporting our project is a perfect way for individuals who care to help shed more light on the problem.

Why does this story matter? In short, it’s a humanitarian crisis. Many Gazans still live in rubble. Unemployment is rampant. Mental health problems are widespread. Running water, medicine and other necessities are in short supply. Back our project, and we’ll also be able to assess the human impact of waiting for essential aid.

This will be Laura’s third trip to Gaza, where she has previously reported on donor aid to the Strip and the state of crisis there.