The humanitarian situation is becoming increasingly dramatic
The war in the Gaza Strip has been going on for over three months now and the humanitarian situation is becoming increasingly desperate: people are starving and the medical services are collapsing. Together with our partner organisations, HEKS has been providing emergency aid to the civilian population since the beginning of the war. Rapid aid is vital for those affected. But despite the great need, it cannot be adequately financed at present. HEKS is therefore urgently dependent on further donations.
Fighting and bombing in Gaza have been going on for more than three months and the situation for civilians is becoming increasingly dire. Most of the population has been forced to flee their homes, and nearly 400,000 people already have little access to food and are at risk of starvation. Medical services are also on the verge of collapse. More than half of the hospitals have been forced to close completely, and acutely injured and chronically ill patients have been unable to receive adequate treatment for months. Without a substantial and sustained response, a humanitarian catastrophe of unimaginable proportions is looming.
"More than 1.8 million people have already been displaced several times in search of safety and protection - but there is no longer a safe place in Gaza! I too have had to flee several times with my family and I also spend most of the day searching for food and water in very unsafe conditions. Nevertheless, through our partners here, we can support those who have an even harder time, such as people who have to live in tents in extreme conditions."
Amal Shanty, HEKS/EPER programme officer in Gaza
More and more displaced people are arriving in Rafah and the supply situation is desperate, with far too few aid supplies reaching the Gaza Strip. CIVITAS is scaling up its emergency assistance as much as possible to meet their basic needs for shelter, food, medical care and hygiene. The construction of much-needed basic latrines is planned to improve the precarious hygienic conditions. Together with other partner organisations, HEKS is supporting local farmers so that food production does not collapse, offering psychosocial support for children and women and planning the construction of further emergency shelters.