WORLD VISION JERUSALEM STATEMENT ON GAZA BLOCKADE CRISIS

Palestinians and Israelis alike have endured suffering, violence and insecurity due to military incursions or short-range rockets. However, the recent renewal of Israeli military attacks on Gaza's population has greatly aggravated the deplorable conditions caused by a year and a half of Israeli blockade of fuel and humanitarian assistance. In the past three weeks the blockade has tightened even more and food stores have completely run out.

Over a million people in Gaza depend on food aid where the humanitarian situation has been critical for some time and people live in conditions of abject poverty. The most vulnerable people, such as young children, the sick and the elderly, are suffering the most.

The situation is desperate. The blockade has prevented all food, fuel and medical supplies from entering Gaza for the past 20 days. The basic needs for survival have vanished. Bakeries have shut down because there is no wheat and no electricity. People are making do by burning what wood they can find for cooking and milling chicken feed for bread.

Medical attention is reduced to less than basic care without medicines and treatment options for patients with life threatening illnesses. There isn't even paper and pens for writing prescriptions.

Alarmingly, no diplomats and humanitarian workers have been permitted entry to Gaza for nearly three weeks. Beyond merely being fed, Gazans are in dire need for freedom from the extensive controls on movement, and freedom from violence. We ask decision makers and donors to make the humanitarian welfare and basic rights of the Gaza civilian population-especially children-their highest priority. It is imperative that violence ceases on all sides. The situation needs urgent action in order to end the blockade and prevent further suffering.

For further information please contact:

Allyn Dhynes WVJWG Advocacy, Peacebuilding & Communications Manager
Cell phone: +972 54 774 9509
Email: allyn_dhynes@wvi.org