February 16, 2024
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The tragic escalation of the war between Hamas and Israel is now in its fifth month. It leaves behind an indescribable level of destruction and suffering, especially in Gaza. The humanitarian situation on the ground is catastrophic. More than two million people, half of whom are children, are living in inhumane conditions without adequate access to drinking water, food, shelter or healthcare.
Trying to survive in inhumane conditions
"I lost my house and twelve family members in this war," says Marcel Jildeh from the West Bank about the current situation. Her family lives in Gaza. "There is no life, no dignity, no humanity. No one has to endure as much as they do," Marcel says heavily. Since the brutal attack by Hamas militants on 7th October, more than 30,000 people have been killed, the vast majority of them in Gaza. At least 70,000 more have been injured.
Donate and help civilians in Gaza
The ongoing military operations have driven 1.9 million Gazans, 85% of the total population, from their homes. Half of them are children. These people have nowhere to hide. Moreover, many families have had to flee repeatedly. This, together with the limited supply of humanitarian aid, has created a humanitarian disaster in Gaza. People cannot access basic supplies such as drinking water, food, sanitation facilities or health care. Above all, 2.2 million people are at risk of starvation.
The situation continues to deteriorate dramatically. Damage to civilian infrastructure, including residential buildings, schools and hospitals, continues to be reported throughout Gaza. Up to 60% of homes have been destroyed. Attacks continue throughout the Gaza Strip, including the still relatively safe Rafah area in the south. Our colleague Amal (name changed for security reasons) from Caritas Jerusalem listened to the calls to flee to 'safety'. But now he is alive only by a miracle.
Nowhere is safe
Amal and his family had to leave their home in northern Gaza soon as the war began. They found refuge with friends in the supposedly "safe" Khan Younis. For two months, they crowded together with nearly sixty other people in a house designed for significantly fewer inhabitants. Just before Christmas, however, the house was bombed and collapsed on the people inside. Amal was miraculously pulled out of the rubble alive. His brother, however, lost his leg in the attack, and the whole family lost their shelter.
"People found refuge in the safety of the church, but it was bombed," says Marcel, describing the attack on the Orthodox church that also killed our colleague from Caritas Jerusalem. "The Latin church was hit by snipers and two women died in the attack. In addition, we often cannot get in touch with people in Gaza at all to make sure they are okay," she adds with concern in her voice.
Way over a million people are now crowded without adequate facilities in Rafah. But the ground military operation now threatens to hit this last pocket in the south, where residents have been pushed and have nowhere else to flee. The humanitarian situation on the ground is already dire, and further violence would likely lead to a total collapse. Caritas has repeatedly called for an immediate ceasefire, for unrestricted humanitarian access for civilians to comply with the international humanitarian law. Caritas also calls for the immediate release of all hostages and arbitrarily detained persons.
Caritas is helping on the ground
Despite the catastrophic conditions, our partner organisation Caritas Jerusalem is helping on the ground. Caritas Jerusalem has long been working in Gaza, has a hundred staff on the ground, mainly dedicated to providing medical care, and has its own clinic. Unfortunately, it is out of service due to the fighting, but is scheduled to be renovated and reopened as soon as the situation allows.
But our brave colleagues have not hesitated to get involved in helping civilians in Gaza despite the difficult situation. They have set up makeshift clinics in churches in northern Gaza to care for the sick and wounded. At the same time, these places have become centres for providing basic humanitarian aid as well as temporary shelter. Subsequently, temporary Caritas health centres also began operating in the south of the Gaza Strip. As a result, Caritas Jerusalem continues to provide much-needed health care in Gaza, providing medicine, and essential humanitarian aid to those who have had to flee their homes. They also continue to provide psychological support.
The current war in Gaza also has a dramatic impact on the situation in the West Bank. The blockades of Palestinian towns, as well as the absence of tourists and pilgrims, are a disaster for the people there as they have lost their primary source of income and the ability to continue to earn a living.
We thank all those who are working with us to help the civilians in Gaza.
Donate and help civilians in Gaza
