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| A mosque destroyed by airstrikes over Gaza on the 29th of December 2008. Photo: REUTERS/MOHAMMED SALEM |
"The humanitarian consequences for innocent civilians will be even graver than they already are if all parties do not immediately end all attacks and begin a new ceasefire. Continued hostilities will only further threaten human life and aggravate future prospects of peace ", said John Nduna, Director of ACT International, the global faith-based humanitarian alliance of churches and related agencies.
Humanitarian response needed
ACT members working in Gaza report that they have the capacity to respond to emergency needs as the situation develops.
| ACT in Gaza |
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| Action By Churches Together is an international alliance of faith-based humanitarian organisations. ACT has a long history of humanitarian assistance and peace-building activities in the area. DanChurchAid is a member of ACT. |
"While there are reports that Israel has opened up some access for humanitarian convoys into Gaza – continued, increased and unfettered humanitarian access is absolutely essential to save lives threatened by the direct and indirect effects of the escalating conflict.", said Mr. Nduna.
DanChurchAid is ready to provide humanitarian assistance through contributing to the supply of needed health material and supplies as prioritized by the UN OCHA Health Cluster Group as well as through ACT-Forum Palestine who is mobilizing its members for a proper response.
Long-lasting pressure on Gaza’s population
Before the current escalation of the conflict, Gaza was already in a desperate situation, lacking food, medicine, fuel, electricity and other commodities.
“What we see now is a continuation - although escalation - of a situation that has lasted for more than 18 months. During all this time the policy has been to add pressure to the population in Gaza, through a tight blockade, in order to weaken Hamas. The results have been poor, and in the meantime the civilian population pays the price in the form of under-nutrition, severe traumatisation and poverty.”, says DanChurchAid‘s Middle East Coordinator Malene Sonderskov.
"It is the responsibility of the international community and all parties to the conflict to find means to end the violence on both sides and to find solutions to the conflict that will guarantee the rights of Israelis as well as Palestinians to live in peace behind secure borders.", she adds.
By ACT International/DCA