About Us
United for Dignity Alliance (UFDA) is a nonprofit, nonpolitical humanitarian, medical, and development organization led by Gazans and supported by international partners. We work to meet urgent civilian needs while sustaining essential systems and strengthening local capacity for recovery.
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Formally established in December 2025, UFDA brings together locally led initiatives and international collaborators that have been operating since the onset of the war. Our work spans emergency humanitarian response, continuity of medical care, and early recovery and development - recognizing that survival, health, and long-term stability are inseparable.
Our Mission
UFDA’s mission is to deliver locally led humanitarian assistance, essential medical care, and community-centered development that protects civilian life, preserves dignity, and strengthens the systems Gazans rely on to survive and recover.
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We prioritize local leadership, accountability to affected communities, and partnerships that enable (not replace) Gazan decision-making.
Our Vision
We envision a Gaza where communities are able not only to survive crisis, but to heal, rebuild, and sustain civilian life with dignity.
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This includes:
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Reliable access to essential humanitarian support
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Continuity of medical and public health care, including chronic and specialized services
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Rebuilding community infrastructure, skills, and local institutions
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Restoring social cohesion, education, and pathways to recovery
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Our vision extends beyond emergency relief toward stabilization and long-term resilience, led by Gazans and supported by responsible global partners.
What Dignity Means in Practice
For UFDA, dignity is not a slogan. It is an operational principle.​ Dignity means:
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Local decision-making by those closest to the needs
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Continuity of care, not fragmented or one-off aid
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Respect for autonomy, culture, and lived experience
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Strengthening civilian systems rather than bypassing them
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Accountability to communities as well as donors
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Every UFDA program is designed to protect agency, reduce dependency, and support sustainable recovery alongside immediate relief.
A Gazan-Led Alliance Model
UFDA operates as an alliance, not a top-down nonprofit.
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Gazan professionals, community leaders, educators, and clinicians identify priorities, design interventions, and lead implementation. International partners contribute resources, technical expertise, advocacy, and protection, supporting local leadership rather than directing it.
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This model ensures relevance, speed, accountability, and sustainability in an environment where externally driven aid often fails to meet real needs.
Our Approach
UFDA works across three interconnected domains:
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Humanitarian ResponsE
We provide emergency assistance including food, water, shelter, hygiene supplies, and protection support to displaced and crisis-affected civilians.
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Medical & Health Continuity
We support essential and specialized medical care, including maternal and newborn health, chronic disease management, cancer care, nutrition, and sexual and reproductive health, prioritizing continuity, safety, and clinical standards even under crisis conditions.
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Recovery & Development
We invest in education, community centers, health system strengthening, and local capacity building to support early recovery, institutional resilience, and longer-term stability.
These domains are not separate programs. They are one integrated model, designed to address immediate survival while laying foundations for recovery.
Executive Leadership
Board of Directors
International Advisory Council
Yaroup Ajlouni, MD
Jordan
Dr. Ajlouni directs regional health, humanitarian aid, and resilience efforts through the Jordan Health Aid Society. With a medical degree, a Master’s in Politics, and an MBA, he combines clinical expertise with strategic leadership in complex humanitarian and development settings. He serves on multiple boards of global and MENA-based alliances, contributing to policy, advocacy, and collaborative action on health and social issues across the region.
Major General (ret.) Arthur Denaro
London, UK
Extra Equerry to King Charles III, Arthur commanded the Queen’s Royal Irish Hussars and served as Commandant of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. He has advised the Crown Prince of Bahrain and was a Trustee of the Prince’s Trust.
Mira Kruger
Washington, DC
Kruger is an accomplished business development professional with a proven track record of sustaining and expanding support in the health access space. She has held leadership roles at several nonprofit organizations in the health sector, and throughout her career, Mira has raised hundreds of millions of dollars to improve access to care for patients nationwide.
Sammy Nabulsi
Boston, MA
Sammy serves as Partner at Rose Law Partners, LLP, specializing in environmental and real estate compliance and litigation. Sammy has been recognized for assisting Americans in Gaza and serves on multiple municipal boards.
Michael Morse, MD, MPA
Washington, DC
Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at Georgetown University and Director of Psychiatric Education at The Chesapeake Center. Michael has advanced mental health systems in the West Bank, Gaza, and West Africa.
Nima Sheth, MD
Washington, DC
Director of Policy and Networks at The Reilly Group, leading the Mind the Gap Initiative on perinatal mental health policy. Nima previously served at HHS as Associate Administrator for Women’s Services and Senior Medical Advisor.
Philippa Whitford, MD
Edinburgh, SCT
Member of Parliament for the Scottish National Party in Central Ayrshire. Philippa trained as a breast cancer surgeon at the University of Glasgow before entering politics.
Jennifer Winestock
Bethesda, MD
Public health and development specialist and epidemiologist with extensive experience designing and evaluating community-driven health programs across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, and Associate Faculty at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Nisreen Zaqout
Los Angeles, CA
Associate Director for Advanced Data Analytics at Bloom Ads Global Media Group. Nisreen, originally from Gaza, specializes in marketing analytics and performance intelligence for telecom, entertainment, and media organizations.
Political Neutrality
UFDA is a nonpolitical organization.
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Political neutrality means that we do not align with or endorse any political party, armed group, or governing authority. Our sole commitment is to civilian protection, dignity, and well-being, guided by humanitarian principles, medical ethics, and international standards.
Governance & Accountability
UFDA is governed by a Board of Directors and supported by an Advisory Council comprising professionals with expertise in medicine, public health, humanitarian response, law, policy, and development.
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Our governance structures are designed to:
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Safeguard independence and neutrality
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Ensure financial and ethical accountability
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Protect affected communities
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Maintain transparency with donors and partners
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We are committed to strong safeguarding policies, responsible financial management, and continuous learning.
Stand With Gaza
with Integrity
UFDA exists because Gazan communities deserve more than survival alone. They deserve care, agency, and the ability to rebuild their lives with dignity.
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We welcome donors, partners, and collaborators who share this commitment to locally led, accountable, and sustainable humanitarian, medical, and development work.
