Reports from the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt indicate that crucial humanitarian supplies from Morocco and Egypt are unable to reach those who need them most. People in Gaza are on the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe, desperately requiring food and water to survive.
The Israeli government is warning a land, sea and air offensive is coming, an offensive that will put at risk the lives of hundreds of thousands of people and which has condemned as a potential breach of international law. We continue to implore them to pull back from this threat.
The Rafah border crossing, currently the sole passage out of Gaza for millions, has been closed for an extended period, cutting off the people of Gaza from much-needed humanitarian assistance and any ability to comply with evacuation orders.
Women, children, the elderly and the wounded need food and water in Gaza right now. At a time when water is running out in Gaza, we implore the Egyptian government to open the Rafah border crossing to allow life-saving supplies including food and water to reach those in desperate need.
The people of Gaza are facing dire circumstances, families are going without meals, and the lack of clean water poses a severe health risk to the extremely vulnerable population. The lives of countless individuals, including women, children and those with disabilities, are hanging in the balance. A humanitarian disaster looms large, and the international community must come together to prevent it. Immediate action is needed.
The international community stands ready to support efforts to provide essential aid to the people of Gaza and to help alleviate their suffering during this critical time.
Notes to editor
ActionAid Palestine Country Director, Nadim Zaghloul, and Wisam Shweiki, Head of Programmes at ActionAid Palestine, and Gemma Cosialls Guillen Country Manager at ActionAid Spain in Palestine, are available for interview on request.
Contact [email protected] to arrange interviews.