Humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate
Yesterday´s humanitarian conference for Gaza in Amman reiterated the crucial importance of ending the human suffering and mobilizing sufficient funds to meet the massive needs after 8 months of war. The negotiations for a ceasefire must succeed for the needed massive upscale of aid to be possible.
The number of people killed in Gaza since October 7th nears 40 000, as the past weekends unprecedented events with the Israeli military operation in An Nuseirat Refugee Camp results in nearly 1000 Palestinians killed, hundreds injured, and still an unknown number of people still trapped in the ruins, according to the UN.
NPAs country director, Kelly Flynn, is currently in Ramallah in the West Bank, and stays in contact with colleagues in Gaza as much as possible.
– We have team members who have lost relatives over the weekend as well as family members seriously injured. The resilience of our colleagues on the ground is simply indescribable, says Flynn.
Across Gaza, heavy bombardment from air, land, and sea continues to be reported, resulting in further civilian suffering, displacement, destruction of houses and other civilian infrastructure. 1,7 million people are displaced in Gaza right now, with over 1 million of them being forced to flee from place to place in and around Rafah.
– I simply do not have the words to express how the people of Gaza are suffering but also coping with the situation they are forced to be in, says Flynn. - As one colleague said this morning: we are now getting low on coping resources having passed 8 months of war.
As the humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, the negotiations on the UN Security Council adopting a cease-fire resolution brought a small glimmer of hope. -The people in Gaza are suffering at levels beyond imagination, this is a human made catastrophe and we need and demand an immediate cease-fire NOW, says Flynn.
In the West Bank, tensions escalate in response to developments in Gaza, with numerous arrests and clashes involving the IDF, settlers, and Palestinian youths.
– This follows a pattern we have been witnessing over the last years, and especially months, with an increase in attacks by Israeli settlers, military raids, arbitrary arrests, increased movement restrictions, and the use of force against Palestinian civilians. This has led to a deeply concerning deterioration of the already difficult humanitarian situation in the West Bank. The settlements are illegal under international law, as are any further annexation of land and expansion of settlements, says Flynn.
NPA has been working with the Norwegian Union of Municipal and General Employees (NUMGE) for years to end all Norwegian ties to the occupation. – More than ever, it is vital that Norwegian actors ensure that their business relationships are not linked to violations of international law on occupied land, says Flynn.
