Smoke rises over Gaza after Israeli airstrike. Photo: Reuters/Suhaib Salem

"The humanitarian situation in Gaza is dreadful. They are out of flour for bread, there's zero stock of medicine and the hospitals have no more room for the wounded." says Fadia Daibes Murad, DanChurchAid's representative in Palestine. "I am in constant contact with our coordinator in Gaza. He's very scared that Israel are going to send tanks and ground troops into Gaza. This will worsen the situation beyond imagination." Together with a group of partners from ACT International, DanChurchAid is setting up supply of emergency aid for Gaza. A local partner has three mobile clinics ready inside Gaza, which can be deployed to treat wounded as soon as they receive support for medical supplies. Also, aid supplies of food, gas and petrol is being coordinated through local partners and UN agencies.

Closed military zone

Fadia Daibes Murad, DanChurchAid's representative in Palestine.

However, organizing a humanitarian response in Gaza is no easy task. The areas around Gaza have been declared closed military zones by the Israeli military, and this complicates the task of the aid agencies trying to support the population in Gaza.

"I don't want to sound pessimistic, but it is alarming how little is happening. I keep reading stories in the media that two or three trucks with aid have crossed the border from Israel. But honestly – What difference does two or three trucks make?", says Fadia Daibes Murad.
"The main problem we're dealing with is access. Access to the area itself and access to the goods we need to distribute. We are trying to assess what is needed, where to get it and how to get it over the border and into Gaza. Right now we're considering bringing in supplies over the Egyptian border.".

West bank is a powder keg

Conflict in Gaza

On the 18th of December Israel launched and air strike on Gaza, as a response to armed Palestinians launching missiles against Israel. So far, 348 Palestinians have been killed and more than 800 wounded. UN estimates that at least 62 of the victims were civilian. In Israel three civilians and one soldier have been killed by palestinian rockets since the hostilities began. A big part of the population in Gaza is already dependant on food distribution from aid agencies, which is now being hindered by the military operations.

Currently the focus is getting supplies of food, medicine and other necesities to the people in Gaza. But the psychosocial effort is equally important – and not just in the long run.

"Psychosocial assistance is urgent, and not just in Gaza. I am very worried of the reactions to the conflict in the West Bank. People are really frustrated, especially the youngsters. They feel powerless and seem very keen on doing something, even young people who are not usually involved in politics. I am afraid that the situation might blow up in the West Bank as well, if the young people suddenly decide to take to the streets to show their frustrations and anger towards Israel.", says Fadia Daibes Murad.

Food and medicine is not enoughThe primary concern is to get food and medicine for the Gazan population. However, DanChurchAid and its partners hope to be able to advocate with the Israelis to end the military operations. "I hope we can do more than just ship goods into Gaza. In the long run we need to make an effort to put an end to the fighting. Feeding the victims won't do any good - we need stop the conflict itself. We are very desperate these days." Fadia Daibes Murad concludes.