Action Against Hunger is deeply shocked and concerned that, after a year of violence, our staff and humanitarian colleagues continue to report the devastating consequences of immense death, damage, and loss across the Gaza Strip.
On Sunday 13 October 2024, just 300 metres from our office in Deir al-Balah, an Israeli airstrike targeted Al Aqsa Hospital, setting tents ablaze and endangering the people inside. This marks the fourth airstrike on Al Aqsa Hospital in the last ten days.
Just days earlier, on Thursday 10 October 2024, two health workers were killed in an Israeli airstrike that struck the Rafidah school, which has been converted into a shelter for displaced persons in Deir al-Balah.
Six others at the Ard El Insan Child Nutrition Centre were seriously injured in the same incident. Earlier that morning, Action Against Hunger staff had distributed water at the school – once at 8 AM and again at 10 AM – only for the airstrike to occur just an hour later, resulting in more than 28 fatalities and 50 injuries, including colleagues involved in nutrition activities. It is important to note that Israeli forces had been informed of these humanitarian efforts at the Rafidah school.
“The crisis in Gaza is worsening daily,” stated Natalia Anguera, Action Against Hunger’s Middle East Operations Manager. The violence we are witnessing after a year of conflict is severely impacting civilians, humanitarian workers, hospitals, schools, and shelters. All parties must do everything in their power to ensure compliance with international humanitarian law.”
Action Against Hunger condemns the ongoing targeting of civilians, humanitarian workers, and essential civilian infrastructure, and we strongly reiterate the urgent need for an immediate and sustained ceasefire.
Action Against Hunger has worked in the Occupied Palestinian Territory since 2002 and in the Gaza Strip since 2005, our organisation has been actively responding to the current crisis since October 2023, providing over 1.1 million people with food, water, sanitation, hygiene, and nutrition interventions.