RAMALLAH, 10 September, 2024 – NGOs working in and on Gaza have yet again highlighted the crippling obstruction of access for aid, outlining restrictions, delays, as well as the scope of death and destruction in the wake of Israel's military operations in Gaza and the West Bank.
Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) and leading humanitarian agencies outline the death toll of the recent Israeli military operations including the largest and longest incursion into the West Bank in two decades as well as the September 10th strike on the designated "humanitarian" zone in Al-Mawasi which so far has killed 40 people. Although the Polio vaccination program has been hailed as a success so far, the report notes that the campaign was still hampered by a number of factors such as lack of security and stability in the Gaza strip as well as restrictions imposed by Israeli Forces. Phase 3 of the Polio vaccination program is slated to begin today in the toughest of conditions in Northern Gaza where almost all infrastructure has been completely destroyed. As polio and other conditions such as skin diseases continue to spread throughout the population, disproportionately affecting children, Israel continues to deny and delay the delivery of humanitarian goods in the sector of health and sanitation. This includes over 33 trucks carrying items such as blankets, hygiene kits, menstrual kits and maternity kits.
NGOs operating in Gaza face unprecedented challenges, as access to vital resources and supplies is blocked, and staff are put at risk by bombardment and attacks in so-called ‘humanitarian zones.’ Despite these obstacles, aid workers, mostly Palestinian staff from Gaza, continue to heroically strive to deliver assistance, but the scale of the crisis is overwhelming. Reports indicate severe delays in the delivery of critical supplies, with warehouses destroyed, and transportation routes rendered unsafe due to ongoing hostilities. These challenges underscore the urgent need for international intervention to ensure that humanitarian aid can be delivered effectively.
Without immediate action, the potential spread of polio and other preventable diseases will further compound the suffering of Gaza's civilian population. The international community must urgently demand a ceasefire and unimpeded humanitarian access, and impose a humanitarian arms embargo to ensure that vital medical supplies, including vaccines, can reach those in need. A ceasefire is not just a temporary reprieve from the violence; it is essential for preventing a catastrophic health crisis in Gaza that could quickly spread across the region.
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