Mercy Corps Calls for Access, Cessation of Hostilities, as Humanitarian Crisis Deepens in Gaza

Time is running out for 2 million people in Gaza amidst 11 days of escalating conflict that has killed more than 1,400 Israelis and over 3,000 Palestinians, with more lives continuing to be lost each day. Without urgent action to address the escalating violence and deteriorating humanitarian situation, Mercy Corps fears the worst is yet to come. 

Half the population of Gaza have fled their homes. Hospitals are hours away from running out of  fuel reserves to run generators as they treat thousands of critically ill and injured patients after nearly a week of bombardments - including the blast which today reportedly killed hundreds of people at the Al Ahli Arab hospital in Gaza City. The International Committee of the Red Cross has warned that hospitals in Gaza risk turning into morgues. Water and sanitation services have completely collapsed, including the shutdown of Gaza’s last functioning seawater desalination plant. Wheat flour reserves will be depleted within the week, leaving people with no way to feed their families.

Humanitarian organizations have been stymied in their efforts to aid the injured and those with no food, water or shelter. The vast majority of humanitarian organizations that were working in Gaza before the recent outbreak of violence are unable to deliver assistance as their staff are themselves fleeing — and some dying. All but a handful of Mercy Corps’ team members in Gaza have fled their homes.

Humanitarian support must be made immediately available to people in Gaza who have been cut off from basic needs. A cessation of hostilities and humanitarian access is urgently needed to allow essential and lifesaving assistance — including medicine, fuel, food and water — into Gaza. Aid and aid workers must be able to access people in need.

The violence inflicted against Israeli and Palestinian civilians on and since October 7th underscores the urgency of practicing the protections of civilians and civilian infrastructure that are guaranteed under International Humanitarian Law. Civilians must not be targeted, held against their will, forcibly removed or used as bargaining chips or human shields. As a global community, we must ensure that International Humanitarian Laws are not just words on paper, but guide the actions of all parties to conflict in Israel and Gaza.

Mercy Corps has worked in Palestine since 1986, in Gaza and the West Bank, and is committed to significantly ramping up much-needed lifesaving assistance in Gaza as soon as it is safe to do so, with a likely focus on provision of essential items such as clean water, food, hygiene supplies and shelter materials