The ICRC says Israel has a “duty” to meet the needs of Palestinians who are struggling to survive.
According to the Red Cross Committee (ICRC), Gaza’s humanitarian response is on the verge of “complete collapse,” with Palestinians facing “struggles to survive” amid Israeli war and blockades of enclaves.
The ICRC issued a warning on Friday, adding an urgent plea from international aid agencies for a transaction in which Israel agrees to a ceasefire and the reopening of the humanitarian corridor.
In a statement, the ICRC said that without an immediate resumption of aid delivery, they would not be able to access the food, medicines and lifesaving supplies needed to maintain many of the programmes in Gaza.
Israel strictly controls all influx of international aid, essential to the 2.3 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
Israel closed access to aid delivery to Gaza on March 2, two weeks before the collapse of the ceasefire, which began in January and ran for about six weeks.
The ICRC warned that if lockdowns continue, humanitarian operations in Gaza, particularly food distribution, could only be run for a few more weeks.
Under international humanitarian law, Israel has a “obligation to use all means” and ensures that the needs of Palestinian civilians under its control are met.
“Civilians in Gaza face an overwhelming daily struggle to overcome the dangers of hostilities, deal with relentless evacuations and endure the consequences of urgent humanitarian aid,” said ICRC Deputy Director Pascal Hunt.
“This situation should not be allowed to escalate further.”
The United Nations has repeatedly warned about humanitarian catastrophes, and hunger is looming as lockdowns continue.
On Friday, Philip Lazarini, UN Agency Commissioner of the Palestinian Refugee Agency (UNVRA), said the Israeli siege collectively punishes children, women, elderly people and men in Gaza.
In an interview with Al Jazeera, Palestinian NGOS network Amjad Showa warned that the situation in Gaza is rapidly exacerbating for tens of thousands of children, and that many are likely to die from malnutrition.
On Friday, Israel continued to fire the enclave. Medical sources told Al Jazeera that 22 Palestinians were killed in Israeli air raids since Dawn, and 22 Palestinians were killed in attacks on the Breage refugee camp in central Gaza and the Sheikradwan district northwest of Gaza city.
Source link
