Photo: © Alessio Romenzi
Médecins du Monde co-signs a call for an immediate ceasefire and warns that the aid system in Gaza is collapsing.
After 18 months of war, a staggering toll on civilians and aid workers, and now a six-week total siege, the humanitarian aid system in Gaza is facing total collapse. Representatives of major aid organizations, including Médecins du Monde, are making an urgent plea: let us do our jobs.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is rapidly deteriorating
A new humanitarian access survey of 43 international and Palestinian humanitarian organizations working in Gaza found that nearly all of them have had to suspend or dramatically cut services since the ceasefire ended one month ago on 18 March, with widespread and indiscriminate bombing making it extremely dangerous to move around, leaving tons of humanitarian aid stuck outside the war zone.
The people of Gaza -particularly women and children- continue to pay the price. Hospitals have been extensively damaged and lack basic life-sustaining facilities, now turned into morgues. More than 51 000 Palestinians are reported to have lost their lives.
“This is one of the worst humanitarian failures of our generation. Every single person in Gaza is relying on humanitarian aid to survive. That lifeline has been completely cut off since a blockade on all aid supplies was imposed by Israeli authorities on 2 March”, underlined the joint statement.
Humanitarian organizations targeted
Gaza now holds the devastating record of the deadliest place in the world for humanitarian workers. The humanitarian space is shrinking as International Humanitarian Law remains ignored, with more than 400 humanitarian workers and more than 1,300 health workers counted among the human casualties since October 2023.
Every day, humanitarian workers, including many Palestinians, are targeted, detained, obstructed or killed. Just as every day, rules meant to protect civilians in war are ignored with impunity. “We cannot operate under fire or stay silent while our staff are killed.”
Urgent need for ceasefire and full access
At the same time, families are living amidst the rubble of their destroyed homes. Famine is not just a risk, but likely rapidly unfolding in almost all parts of Gaza. The UN has warned that the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is the worst it has been in 18 months.
The Israeli authorities’ proposal for a new authorization mechanism for the delivery of aid in Gaza has been described by the UN Secretary-General as a practice that is likely to “limit aid down to the last calorie and grain of flour,” setting a dangerous new global precedent that threatens to eliminate any scope for independent humanitarian action.
“When our staff and partners, our convoys, our offices, our warehouses are shelled, the message is loud and clear: even lifesaving aid is no longer protected,” warn the aid organizations in their joint statement. Despite hopes that the eight-week pause in hostilities would become a turning point, the violence against civilians and aid workers has only worsened.
Humanitarian law without exceptions
“We call on all parties to guarantee the safety of our staff and to allow the safe, unfettered access of aid into and across Gaza through all entry points, and for world leaders to oppose further restrictions.”
In co-signing the humanitarian appeal, Médecins du Monde calls for the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, schools and shelters, and the immediate restoration of basic services, water, electricity and sanitation, as required by international law.
“We call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire. Humanitarian aid should never be used as a political tool. Saving lives should not be controversial. Laws of war developed over centuries to govern conduct and protect civilians should not now be discarded.”
Let us do our jobs.
The joint statement is signed by representatives of: Médecins du Monde International Network, Save the Children International, Oxfam International, Anera, Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP), Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), Plan International, Humanity & Inclusion – Handicap International, CARE International, War Child Allience.