Blocking aid into Gaza will cost lives
The horrifying decision by the Israeli authorities to block humanitarian supplies into Gaza will cost lives at a time where the entire population is reliant on aid to survive. The current level of need in Gaza, after 15 months of war, is staggering. In the last few weeks alone, seven babies have died of hypothermia amid a dire shortage of tents, shelter materials and warm clothes. Many more people will die if urgently needed supplies of food, water, fuel, medicines and other essentials are cut off.
Life-saving aid must never be used as a bargaining chip. The Israeli authorities must adhere to international humanitarian law and allow humanitarian supplies to flow unhindered into Gaza. The international community must do everything in its power to secure this outcome, as well as ensure a permanent end to the war in Gaza.
Amjad Al Shawa is the director of the Palestinian NGOs Network (PNGO) an umbrella organisation of 30 Palestinian NGOs and a partner of ActionAid Palestine, which works on the coordination of Palestinian NGOs and international NGOs and the logistics of humanitarian work and assistance in Gaza.
He says: “We, in Gaza, are suffering from deep humanitarian catastrophe due to the implications of the Israeli war, which [has] continued for 13 months, and the Israeli blockade. Today’s decision to close the borders and to deny the entry of humanitarian aid will have severe implications on the lives of Palestinians.
“This decision to prevent the entry of food, medicine, fuel and other shelter items – which people [are] in bad need [of] – while we are engaged on such a humanitarian response, will complicate our efforts to alleviate part of the suffering of the people, and will have severe complications on [people’s] lives [and] health conditions, while at least 80% of the health system [has] collapsed. This will stop our efforts [to provide a humanitarian response] and this will deepen the humanitarian conditions.
“We urgently call on all international humanitarian actors to intervene to stop such a grave violation committed by the Israeli occupation and to reopen all the crossings [into Gaza] to enter the needs urgently.”
[ENDS]
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