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Facing a terrible humanitarian situation

Geneva, 03/08/2006: The eyes of the world are currently focused on Lebanon in the Middle East, but in Gaza, in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, where more than a hundred Palestinians have been killed in the conflict during the last month, the situation is equally critical.

Constantine Dabbagh, director of the Gaza-based Middle East Council of Churches’ Department of Service to Palestinian Refugees (MECC/DSPR).

By Anna Jonassan, ACT International

The humanitarian situation in Gaza can only be described as critical, with food, electricity and water shortages increasing, compounded by the escalating conflict in the region.

"The eyes of the world are focused on Lebanon, but our situation here is chaotic," said Constantine Dabbagh, director of the Gaza-based Middle East Council of Churches’ Department of Service to Palestinian Refugees (MECC/DSPR), which is a member of ACT International.

Since Israel bombed Gaza’s only electricity power station on June 28 this year, power supplies have been cut in half, leaving several hospitals without electricity. This has meant that operations that were to be performed on people, have had to be cancelled. Food supplies, medicines and vaccines have also been destroyed, because refrigerators no longer work. The hospitals that are without electricity are relying on generators, which require an enormous amount of fuel, which in turn is in short supply due to the difficulty of getting supplies into Gaza.

In spite of the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza in September last year, Israel still controls all the borders to Gaza, as well as its sea and airspace. According to International Humanitarian Law, and in particular Article 54 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, it is duty-bound as an occupying state to meet the basic needs of the population-which includes food, medicines and housing.

And even though the major entry point used mainly for cargo into Gaza, at Karni Crossing, was opened temporarily in order to allow food to be brought in, a large proportion of the population simply cannot afford to by the food.

"It is important to remember in our prayers, our thoughts and by our support, the people who are suffering as a result of this conflict," says Henrik Fröjmark, the secretary for the Middle East of Church of Sweden, which is a member of the global alliance Action by Churches Together.

Currently, almost one million people in Lebanon have been displaced. In Gaza, the situation is equally critical.

"Gaza is facing a terrible humanitarian situation. The supply of fresh water, which is an absolute necessity in [a region where temperatures can reach] 40 degrees Celsius (104.00 Fahrenheit), is in principle non-existent. Particularly in the refugee camps the situation is extremely serious," Henrik Fröjmark says.

"People who are employed by the Palestinian Authority have not received their wages for several months," MECC/DSPR’s Mr Dabbagh said. "They number some 60,000 to 70,000 people, many of whom have up to seven family members relying on them for food," he added.

"We appeal to the world around to make sure that there is an end to this occupation. We cannot continue like this for much longer," said Mr Dabbagh.

Anna Jonasson is a staff member of Church of Sweden , a member of ACT International. (Translated from Swedish for ACT International by Eva Berglund, also of Church of Sweden).

NOTE: The ACT Alliance is responding to the humanitarian situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories though its appeal:

DanChurchAid is a member of ACT International - a global alliance of churches and related agencies working to save lives and support communities in emergencies.