GAZA, (PIC)
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has warned that the humanitarian response in Gaza is on the brink of total collapse as a result of the ongoing Israeli war of genocide.
“Six weeks of intense hostilities, coupled with a complete ban on the entry of aid for two months, have deprived civilians of the basic necessities they need to survive,” the committee said in a statement on Friday.
It warned that if aid delivery is not resumed immediately, the ICRC will not be able to procure food, medicine and life-saving supplies needed to ensure the continuity of many of its programs in Gaza.
“Every day, civilians in Gaza endure tremendous suffering to survive the dangers of hostilities, cope with relentless displacement and bear the consequences of being denied urgent humanitarian assistance. No further escalation of this situation should be allowed, nor can it be allowed,” Pascal Hunte, Deputy Director of Operations for the ICRC, said.
If the blockade continues, the ICRC will not be able to continue programs such as supporting community kitchens, which often provide the only meal people receive each day.
According to the statement, food and medical supplies at the Red Cross field hospital in Gaza are running out to a critical level, with some essential medicines and consumables already exhausted. Hospitals and other medical facilities are reorganizing stocks and using supplies on a priority basis to be able to continue life-saving activities.
The committee stressed that if these facilities are unable to replenish their stocks, they will face great difficulty in continuing to provide medical care to patients in need.
It noted that the water, sanitation and hygiene situation is deteriorating sharply. Disruption of water systems – including the closure of water pipelines and the destruction of essential sanitation trucks – has raised the risk of waterborne disease outbreaks to unacceptable levels.
The situation is exacerbated by repeated attacks affecting the functioning of health care facilities and medical personnel, it added, noting that last month saw the killing of 15 medical, civil defense and humanitarian personnel, including eight paramedics from the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, in a particularly horrific manner.
Damage to health facilities such as the Kuwait Field Hospital and the Al-Ahli Hospital in recent weeks has further crippled the health system in Gaza, which is on the verge of collapse, according to the statement.
The ICRC reaffirmed its commitment to serving civilians in Gaza, but said the deteriorating security situation severely limits the work and movement of its staff and partners.
It stressed that international humanitarian law is clear: medical personnel and medical facilities must be respected and protected in all circumstances, calling for hospitals and medical facilities to remain safe havens where people’s lives can be preserved.
The ICRC warned that if immediate action is not taken, Gaza will slide into further chaos and humanitarian efforts will be unable to mitigate the consequences.
