Hostilities between Israeli forces and armed groups in Gaza have resulted in many casualties and extensive damage to residential and commercial buildings, schools and infrastructure, including roads, electricity network and water installations. Photo: Fady Hanona
The recent escalation of hostilities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel has resulted in another cycle of destruction and human suffering for the people of Gaza. Many civilians, mostly women and children, have lost their lives, and thousands more have lost everything as their homes and businesses were brought to rubble. They are in desperate need of lifesaving water, shelter, and food, and every help to rebuild their lives.
In recent weeks horrific escalation of violence in Gaza and across the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel have left 219 civilians killed, most of whom are Palestinians, including over 60 children. Even prior to this new cycle of bombardment, over 80% of Palestinians in Gaza needed humanitarian aid. Despite the recent ceasefire, the scale of suffering is immense.
People are struggling to secure cash to support their basic needs, or to buy food, water, and medicines. Thousands have lost their homes and are now forced into temporary shelters. Of immediate concern is the shutdown of Gaza’s sole power plant due to lack of fuel. Hundreds of military airstrikes by Israel have destroyed essential water and sanitation infrastructure, as well as public services. This raises fears that Gaza will run out of electricity and drinkable water.
Oxfam’s response
Oxfam is on the ground in Gaza, ready to provide people with humanitarian aid like clean water, food, and other essential items like soap to survive the immediate impacts of this crisis. We are also preparing to fix water and wastewater systems that have been destroyed in the recent bombings.
Prior to this new escalation, we were already responding under a 14-year Israeli blockade rendering the Gaza Strip “unliveable” according to the UN. We must act immediately to support the people who have already paid the price for this needless, disproportionate, violence. Your support is vital.