A report by the International Committee of the Red Cross has described the situation in the Gaza Strip as "1.5 million people trapped in despair". The Italians NGOs that are working in the Gaza Strip have also called for a change in international politics to confront the political and humanitarian emergency.
| From the Report of the International Committee of the Red Cross Over the last two years, the 1.5 million Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip have been caught up in an unending cycle of deprivation and despair as a result of the conflict, and particularly as a direct consequence of the closure of the crossing points. The ICRC has repeatedly pointed out that Israel’s right to address its legitimate security concerns must be balanced against the right of the population in Gaza to lead a normal and dignified life. Under international humanitarian law, Israel has the obligation to ensure that the population's basic needs in terms of food, shelter, water and medical supplies are met. The ICRC once again appeals for a lifting of restrictions on the movement of people and goods as the first and most urgent measure to end Gaza's isolation and to allow its people to rebuild their lives. The almost 4.5 billion dollars that donor countries pledged for reconstruction at an international summit in Egypt in March 2009 will be of little use if building materials and other essential items cannot be imported into the Gaza Strip. In any case, reconstruction alone does not offer a sustainable means of getting Gaza back on its feet. To go back to the situation prior to the latest military operation would be unacceptable, as that would only perpetuate Gaza’s plight. A lasting solution requires fundamental changes in Israeli policy, such as allowing imports and exports to and from Gaza, increasing the flow of goods and people up to the level of May 2007, allowing farmers to access their land in the de-facto buffer zone and restoring fishermen's access to deeper waters. Humanitarian action can be no substitute for the credible political steps that are needed to bring about these changes. Only an honest and courageous political process involving all States, political authorities and organized armed groups concerned can address the plight of Gaza and restore a dignified life to its people. The alternative is a further descent into misery with every passing day. |  Many children were witnesses to violence and now are traumatised
Khalili can't rebuild his house because the blockade of the Strip does not permit building materials to be brought in.
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Gaza appeal by Italian NGOs
Six Months After the Israeli Military Operation "Cast Lead" Nothing Has Changed in Gaza
Jerusalem, 22 July 2009
The Italian non-governmental organisations working for the promotion and protection of the rights of the Palestinian people repeat the appeal promoted by a coalition of humanitarian organisations, including Oxfam International, Care West Bank and Gaza, War Child Holland and Medical Aid for Palestinians UK, in which they called on the international community and in particular the European Union to employ greater efforts to respond in concrete form to the needs of the population of Gaza, affected by the latest Israeli military offensive.
Six months have passed since the end of the Israeli military attack on Gaza and hundreds of thousands of people still have no house and no access to basic services such as clean water. The economy, including the agricultural sector is at the point of collapse and reconstruction seems an impossible undertaking. Operation Cast Lead destroyed the economic fabric, already weakened by the embargo imposed by the Israeli government.
There is no sense in continuing to deprive people of the chance of working and of supporting their families. The border crossings must be opened immediately to facilitate the restarting of economic activities in the shortest time possible.
Rebuilding is currently greatly limited by the embargo on the entry of cement and steel imposed by the Israeli government. This means that 20,000 families, whose homes were razed to the ground or severely damaged during the last conflict cannot restart a normal life. Many are forced to live in refugee camps or in improvised, precarious shelters. In addition, almost 35,000 people do not have access to clean water or a working sewage system. The rebuilding of schools, hospitals, universities and of the public infrastructure has not yet begun. Food and medicines pass, at irregular intervals, only by way of the Kerem Shalom crossing and many medicinal supplies are about to expire.
No step forward has been made by the international community to guarantee the entry into Gaza of aid and construction materials. The moment has arrived for world leaders to take concrete actions to put pressure on the Israeli government to open the crossings and to guarantee the entry of aid and construction materials. The restrictions and prohibitions imposed by Israel are measures that violate the human rights of the civilian population of Gaza. All this in unacceptable.
Therefore we appeal to the European Union to:
- Freeze the upgrading to the agreement of association between the EU and Israel, an agreement that has the requirement for Israel to respect “the principles of the United Nations Charter , in particular, the respect for human rights, democratic principles and economic freedom” (“EUROMEDITERRANEAN AGREEMENT” – Preamble);
- Make every diplomatic effort needed to guarantee full respect for international law keeping faith with the pledges made for the relaunch of the process of reconstruction of Gaza.
We also call on the Italian government, that has set aside 4 million Euro for emergency aid to the population of Gaza, to put the necessary pressure on the Israeli government to guarantee the opening of the border crossings and the passage of goods needed for the activities of reconstruction and rehabilitation financed by such funds. As the agencies of the United Nations affirm in their reports, the improvement of the conditions for the populations of the Gaza Strip is not possible without the opening of border crossings that allow the passage of necessary materials such as cement, and the restarting of commercial and productive activities.
Signatories.
ACS
CISP
CISS
COSPE
CRIC
CENTRO INTERNAZIONALE CROCEVIA
DISVI
EDUCAID
MEDINA
OVERSEAS
TERRE DES HOMMES - ITALIA
VIS
