Action Against Hunger UK’s Post

𝑼𝒓𝒈𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑪𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒂𝒏 𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒊𝒏 𝑹𝒂𝒇𝒂𝒉 (#Gaza) 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘀 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄: The lives of 2.3 million inhabitants of the Gaza Strip are under severe threat. They face the dangers of death, injury, and the collapse of essential infrastructure due to ongoing conflict situations. 𝗜𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗸𝘀: • Potential Military Actions: The possible incursion into Rafah could exacerbate an already disastrous humanitarian situation 🚩🚩🚩 • Humanitarian Challenges: Hospitals are under-supplied and overwhelmed, with severe restrictions on access to vital services. Even accessing aid has become perilous 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗰𝘆: • The Rafah military incursion is not inevitable • The Protection Cluster for the Occupied Palestinian Territory and the Global Protection Cluster emphasize that the protection of civilians, including children, must remain the highest priority • We advocate for an immediate and permanent ceasefire as the only viable solution to prevent further suffering and casualties among Gaza's civilians. 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗢𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: • According to international humanitarian law and directives from the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the government of Israel must implement strategies that minimize civilian harm, including to children. • We urge an immediate halt to attacks on Rafah and other areas where civilians are most vulnerable 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: • We demand a significant increase in humanitarian access to Gaza, especially through land crossings, to ensure aid can reach those in desperate need throughout the Strip. #ChildProtection For further details, please read our full statement here: 👉 https://lnkd.in/eZvFhB6Z

The humanitarian situation in #Gaza continues to worsen. Since the bombing of displaced persons in #Rafah on 26 May, there have been ongoing strikes across the Gaza Strip, resulting in civilian casualties, displacement and the destruction of vital civilian infrastructure. Since October 7, at least 36,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip and another 83,000 Palestinians reportedly injured, according to ➡️ https://lnkd.in/e5mahnqX On 6 June, an #airstrike hit a UN-run school in Gaza and killed 37 people, including 14 children, with others injured. When #explosiveweapons are used in populated areas, they destroy vital infrastructure that civilians depend on. The effects of these explosive weapons are often indiscriminate, with a staggering pattern of harm resulting in death and injuries of civilians. In a recent statement, Volker Türk stated “the killing, destruction and widespread human rights violations are unacceptable, and must cease immediately”. INEW calls on all parties to conflict to stop the use of #EWIPA due to the high risk of harm to civilians. #StopBombingCivilians

We are watching a most serious famine develop in Gaza. Tens of thousands of innocent civilians, including new born babies, are needlessly being killed or left suffering horrific injuries. The citizens of Gaza have awful dreadful living conditions, not fit to enable the provision of basic medical and humanitarian aid. Despite the best efforts of the US and others, millions of law abiding innocent Palestinian citizens have been displaced from their homes and their country utterly destroyed. A two state solution has been totally rejected by Israel. Political leaders across the world must now be prepared to step in with aid and support, and implement an effective safe resettlement program for Palestinian citizens.This is clearly the serious implicit objective of the current Israeli Government,its sponsors and supporters. All political leaders must now take immediate action to secure humanitarian aid,an immediate and long lasting ceasefire and a durable peace that provides a safe homeland for Palestinian citizens.

Humanitarian operations in Gaza face severe access restrictions and, combined with the ongoing insecurity, has resulted in very restricted operational environment for humanitarian actors. Humanitarian actors are present in Gaza because of the unwavering commitment of colleagues on the ground risking their own lives.These bi-weekly snapshots are a testament to the situation on the ground. The undersigned NGOs continue to call for an immediate and lasting ceasefire to provide humanitarian assistance and protect and save lives in Gaza. They also call on all States to immediately halt the transfer of weapons, parts, and ammunition to Israel and Palestinian armed groups for risks that they are used to commit or facilitate serious violations of international humanitarian or human rights law. It is time for those in power to end impunity and act for humanity.

World Humanitarian Day: This commemoration, and the reminder of the circumstances that led to its establishment, are an opportunity to denounce the dramatic situation that continues to prevail for the civilian population in the Gaza Strip. Not to mention other major crises elsewhere in the world. But the situation in Gaza is out of the ordinary in terms of the mortality rate among international aid workers: by 15 August 2024, 11 months after the violence began on 7 October with a massacre of other civilians in Israel, 207 UNRWA staff had lost their lives. These figures reflect a major excess of deaths compared with other crisis areas. In 2022, there were 76 deaths for all UN agencies - and for all humanitarian operations worldwide. https://lnkd.in/dFCpQdac

Rafah is home to some of the last remaining hospitals, markets, and functioning water systems in Gaza – all of which are essential for the health and well-being of children. A major attack on Rafah would significantly increase the already grim toll of deaths and injuries in Gaza. The parties to the conflict must urgently implement a permanent humanitarian ceasefire that will allow the rollout of a much-needed large-scale humanitarian operation. More aid trucks must be allowed in, restrictions on the movement of humanitarian workers must be lifted and safety for aid workers must be guaranteed. The further destruction of Gaza and the killing of civilians will not bring peace or security to the region. That can only be achieved through a negotiated political solution, one that prioritizes the rights and well-being of this and future generations of Israeli and Palestinian children. An op-ed by Catherine Russel, UNICEF Executive Director shared on the CNN website. Read here the full op-ed 👉 https://brnw.ch/21wHxge

Volt Europa follows with great distress the dire situation in Gaza, including the killing of civilians trying to access aid. The use of violence against unarmed civilians, who have nowhere else to go, is unjustifiable. 👉 We urge all sides to bring hostilities to an end immediately. Hamas must release the remaining hostages now and end its rule over Gaza. The Israeli government must halt its military offensive, while also refrain from opposing a Palestinian statehood. 👉 All involved parties must comply with the ICJ ruling of January 26th and the international community must act accordingly. This also means that humanitarian aid must flow unhindered: any barriers to comprehensive aid delivery must be lifted. 👉 Undermining the lifesaving services of UNRWA will only increase the humanitarian catastrophe. We call on all donors to set aside political issues that could hinder UNRWA’s mission of providing humanitarian relief. Read the full statement - https://buff.ly/3TjCDCh

I spoke with CNN on the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza earlier today. Words cannot capture what people are enduring--particularly in the north. Mercy Corps provided our assessment--along with seven other NGOs that have been working to either provide aid or monitor the humanitarian situation--on the conditions for Israel to improve the provision of humanitarian assistance laid out in an October 13 letter from Secretaries Blinken and Austin. These conditions have not only largely not been met, but have actually deteriorated since the letter was sent. The result--if dramatic changes are not made--will be loss of life due to famine conditions that are now present across Gaza and pervasive in particularly in the north. These deaths--affecting children in the greatest numbers-- will occur despite clear warnings and evidence provided by humanitarian actors desperate to assist civilians.