22 December 2009
The international community has betrayed the people of Gaza by failing to back their words with effective action to secure the ending of the Israeli blockade which is preventing reconstruction and recovery.
Crisis in Gaza
Outline
Oxfam welcomes the cessation of violence by both Israel and Hamas. Getting basic humanitarian relief into Gaza and an end to the Israeli blockade must be the priorities once a durable ceasefire has been established.
The situation
The suspension of aid of the past few weeks, Israeli blockades and factional fighting have led to immense suffering in the occupied Palestinian territories. Up to 79 per cent of the population of Gaza and 49 per cent of the West Bank are living in poverty, basic services are facing collapse and malnutrition among children is on the rise. Israeli civilians are still subject to indiscriminate rocket attacks.
What Oxfam is doing
We are distributing food parcels to nearly 56,000 people so that their basic food needs can be met. We are now trucking clean water to up to 50,000 people a day and over the past two months we have reached 2,100 families with hygiene kits. These include items such as soap, toothpaste, diapers, and washing powder.
We are also working with our partners and local communities to rehabilitate damaged parts of Gaza’s water and sewage network.
Oxfam is calling for all parties to commit to a comprehensive and permanent truce; Israel, Hamas and other parties to permit immediate and unhindered access to and from Gaza for humanitarian and commercial goods, and for people.
Political will and long term investment by the international community to tackle the root causes of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict are also urgently needed.
Gaza blog
Gazan farmers unable to work their land in the 'buffer zone'
"Driving along the buffer zone, a military no-go area that extends along the entire perimeter of Gaza and borders Israel, is an eerie experience," reports Catherine Weibel, our Media and Comunications Officer.
Read more of the latest Gaza blog posts. (from Oxfam GB)
Take action
Urge world leaders to join our call for a ceasefire now.
Make a donation
These Oxfam affiliates are appealing for donations for the Gaza crisis:
Oxfam Solidarite – French / Dutch
Not in one of those countries? Find your nearest Oxfam office on our main Donations page.
Updates
23 November 2009
Oxfam International warns that households, bakeries and hospitals in Gaza will be left short of cooking gas as the major annual festival of Eid al-Adha begins this Friday, and calls on Israeli authorities to allow in the daily needed quantities.
11 May 2009
As the UN Security Council meets on May 11th to discuss the long-running Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Oxfam International urges the Council not to overlook the needs of civilians in the Gaza Strip, and to put humanitarian imperatives first.
1 March 2009
As donors are set to meet at a key conference hosted by Egypt in Sharm Al-Sheikh tomorrow to raise funds to help rebuild the Gaza Strip, international agency Oxfam International warned that unless key goods are allowed in and Israel ends its blockade reconstructing Gaza will not happen.
2 February 2009
As the UN is launching an appeal for funding to Gaza in Geneva today, aid agency Oxfam International insists that access of goods to the Gaza Strip is equally important as fundraising. Without further delay, Israel must allow for all existing crossings to function at maximum capacity.
