October 28, 2023
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The war between Israel and Hamas has caused a humanitarian disaster for the civilian population of the Gaza Strip. In a closed area from which there is no escape and nowhere to hide, basic needs, including drinking water, food, medicine and electricity, are running out. Caritas Czech Republic has released funds from its emergency fund and is launching a collection to help affected civilians in the Gaza Strip. They urgently need immediate and safe access to basic humanitarian aid, including medical care. Caritas Jerusalem, which currently has 100 staff on the ground in Gaza, has long provided this assistance.
Since the escalation began on 7 October, ten thousand people have lost their lives on both sides, the vast majority of them directly in the Gaza Strip. Over two-thirds of the victims are children and women. The displaced number 1.4 million. "Unfortunately, most of the victims on both sides are civilians, innocent children, women and men who have no business being in a war. Also, most of the objects hit are civilian buildings, hospitals, mosques, churches, schools or medical centres. It is absolutely crazy," says Harout Bedrossian from Caritas Jerusalem, a partner organisation of Caritas Czech Republic, on the situation in Gaza. In one of the attacks, Caritas employee Viola Amash and her family lost their lives.
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"The continued bombing and disruption of humanitarian aid, water and electricity supplies has created a catastrophe in Gaza, which has long been facing a humanitarian crisis. Over two million Palestinians are trapped in a territory that is systematically bombed and from which there is nowhere to escape," says Kateřina Velíšková, Regional Manager of Cartias Czech Republic. The inhabitants of Gaza, half of whom are children, cannot be provided with even the most basic needs. There is a lack of drinking water, food, medicine, fuel and electricity. In addition, telephone and internet connections have been cut.
"The humanitarian supplies that are reaching Gaza from Egypt are totally inadequate given the huge need," Velíšková explains. Less than a hundred aid trucks have arrived in Gaza in the past week. Before the current escalation, the average number of trucks was 500 a day. "The catastrophic humanitarian situation continues to worsen, and more and more innocent people are paying the ultimate price," she adds. Proceeds from the collection will support Caritas Jerusalem in providing essential medical care in Gaza.
