Aid agencies unite to call for ceasefire in Middle East

The Prime Minister must reverse his current policy and urgently call for an immediate ceasefire by all sides in the current Middle East crisis, said a group of aid agencies working in the region today.

Christian Aid, Save the Children, Oxfam, Islamic Relief, CAFOD, World Vision and CARE International UK have come together as the situation in the Middle East continues to deteriorate and Prime Minister’s policy seems increasingly at odds with the rest of the international community. So far the British Government is one of only a handful of governments who has yet to back calls for a ceasefire.

Oxfam International fear that escalating violence in Gaza will lead to a humanitarian crisis for over 1.3 million Palestinians. Without electricity, following the military strike on Gaza’s sole power station, three key sewage treatments plants are now out of action and over one hundred municipal water wells can no longer operate normally. The agencies warn of an increasing scarcity of clean water, an increase in water -borne diseases from untreated sewage, and of a health system under extreme stress without stable power supplies.

Action must be taken by both Israel and the Palestinians to stop this deteriorating situation and bring a peaceful end to the crisis. All parties, including the international community, have a responsibility to protect civilians from violence.

The Government of Israel must end its continuing destruction of civilian infrastructure, including electrical generators and water pipelines necessary for survival and immediately restore supplies of food, medicine, electricity, fuel and water as well as opening the Karni crossing for goods. Palestinian armed groups must stop indiscriminate attacks on Israel that harm civilians, including firing Qassam rockets into Israel. The international community also has a duty under international law to ensure the protection of all civilians.

Adam Leach, Regional Director from Oxfam said:

"Ordinary Palestinians are suffering from the destruction of bridges, water pipelines and electricity supplies - all things that civilians are entitled to and depend upon. Hundreds of thousands of people are without a regular supply of water. Many of our vital water projects had already been interrupted because of prolonged Israeli restrictions stopping supplies entering Gaza. People’s basic rights are being denied - this does nothing to secure a just and lasting peace in the region.”

Mr Leach said: “The crisis comes as tens of thousands of families in Gaza and the West Bank are struggling to survive without an income because of the suspension of tax payments by the Government of Israel and aid by the international community to the Palestinian Authority.”

Jasmine Whitbread, Chief Executive of Save the Children added:

"In May, Save the Children warned of a rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza. Today we fear that the situation is sliding towards a humanitarian catastrophe. Children are suffering from acute anxiety and fear from ongoing Israeli military attacks and aerial bombardment. These attacks have also targeted civilian structures, including schools. Families, warned of new incursions, are already preparing to flee from targeted areas. Children as always are most affected."

Christian Aid works with local NGOs in Gaza and one of their partners, the Culture and Free Thought Association (CFTA) which works in Khan Younis, has warned how people are being affected living without water and electricity.

Majeda al Saqqa of CFTA said:

"Gaza is now very hot and humid with temperatures constantly over thirty degrees. Without power, people cannot pump water up to their flats. Old people cannot reach hospital if they live in high buildings. At least 200 surgical operations have been cancelled.”

“The situation on the ground is grim and getting worse. All sides need to stop fighting now if we are to pull this situation back from the brink and protect civilians. The Prime Minister has in the past provided admirable leadership on humanitarian crises, we can’t understand why he has got this one so horribly wrong. We urge him to rethink and urgently,” said, Janet Symes, Christian Aid’s Regional Manager for the Middle East, talking on behalf of the group.

According to the aid agencies the continued attacks are not only causing widespread suffering, the targeting of civilian infrastructure is making the aid operation much harder.

“Civilians are the main victims of this and a ceasefire would be in all their interests. While British civilians may have been lucky enough to escape, millions of people just like them but without a British passport are left in the region to suffer. All sides must guarantee humanitarian access to all those left behind, so that help reaches those in urgent need of assistance,” said, Geoffrey Dennis, Chief Executive of CARE International UK, talking on behalf of the group.

www.oxfam.org.uk