Founded in 1968 in the aftermath of the Six-Day War, Anera initially sought to help the hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians by providing emergency relief.

While still providing crisis response, Anera now also addresses the long-term economic and social needs of Palestinians, Lebanese and Jordanians through its health care, education, and job creation programs.

The largest American NGO operating in the West Bank and Gaza,[1] Anera works closely with local institutions, such as schools, universities, health facilities, cooperatives, municipalities, grassroots communities, and charitable associations.

[6] Anera helps to build new schools, offer after-school programs, train preschool teachers and principals, teach information technology, and support music education.

[14] On November 16, 2023, Palestine Children's Relief Fund awarded Anera, in partnership with World Central Kitchen, a $1.5 million grant to provide hot meals for distribution to displaced individuals in Gaza during the Israel–Hamas war.

[18] On April 11, the organization's chief executive, Sean Carroll, informed The New York Times that relief operations were resuming, with assurance from the IDF that it would take measures to protect the workers.