The escalating war between Palestinian armed groups and Israel is resulting in violations of international humanitarian law on both sides. A major humanitarian crisis is unfolding. The imposed blockade and lack of safe humanitarian corridors has left Gaza without electricity. This affects access to water, communications, food, health services and the most basic needs.
Action Against Hunger has halted its activities in Gaza. The organisation is now focusing on protecting its teams, and their families, who are part of the 2.2 million people living in the approximately 360 square kilometres that make up Gaza – one of the most densely populated areas in the world. The charity’s efforts to provide safety continue, although with the constant bombardment, fewer areas in Gaza can be considered safe.
Action Against Hunger’s staff report that telecommunications, schools, hospitals, shopping centres, universities, residential buildings, banks, logistics centres and commercial warehouses have been targeted. This is in a place where thousands of homes have already been destroyed in recent years.
According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), close to 340,000 people have been internally displaced in Gaza. However, all border crossings out of Gaza are closed or destroyed, including the Rafah crossing with Egypt, which was attacked by Israel yesterday.
Chiara Saccardi, Action Against Hunger’s spokesperson for Gaza, said: “The widespread, deliberate and disproportionate targeting of civilians by any party is contrary to international humanitarian law, as is the collective punishment of civilian populations. These actions are fuelling a catastrophic humanitarian crisis and removing any prospect of a solution. All parties must immediately exercise restraint and comply with their international legal obligations.”
“It is therefore essential to facilitate both timely funding and access to life-saving food, water, sanitation and health services. In 2018, the UN Security Council unanimously passed the historic resolution 2417, which condemns the use of hunger as a weapon of war. In these days of blockade and extreme violence, we must not forget this.”
The organisation is also calling for the removal of movement restrictions in the West Bank, which prevent people from accessing basic services such as health, education and markets.
Action Against Hunger has been working in the Occupied Palestinian Territory since 2002, opening an office in Gaza in 2005.