WORLD leaders have failed the people of Gaza for five months. This cannot go on any longer.
It has now been five months since the onset of Israel’s indiscriminate bombardment, invasion and total siege of Gaza. More than 30,000 people have been killed, and 70,000 people have been injured, with countless more buried under the rubble.
For more than 150 days Gaza has been plunged into an unprecedented, man-made humanitarian catastrophe: Israeli forces have killed and injured one in every 23 people, almost three quarters of those killed are women and children, and more than 1.7m people (almost three quarters of the population) have been driven from their homes. These are not just faceless numbers, every single person killed had dreams and hopes for the future.
Just when it is needed more than ever, the healthcare system is being systematically dismantled by the Israeli military, exacerbating the suffering of the population and driving up the death toll. Hospitals, once places of healing and refuge, have become targets. Doctors are struggling to provide even basic care, with essential medical supplies in short supply, and hundreds of healthcare workers killed, arbitrarily detained, or forced to flee hospitals and clinics. The deliberate targeting of healthcare is a violation of international humanitarian law, and it condemns countless civilians to suffer without access to life-saving treatment.
A collapsing healthcare system and Israel’s denial of aid into Gaza are seen most acutely in the alarming rise in severe malnutrition. Children are bearing the brunt of this crisis and are being starved at the fastest rate the world has ever known. One in six children in the north of Gaza are now severely malnourished, and at least 18 children have already died of starvation and dehydration.
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The long-term consequences of malnutrition on physical and cognitive development are irreversible, stealing the futures of an entire generation. This emergency is entirely man-made, and can be stopped immediately if Israel lifts its siege and allows the unfettered access of urgent aid.
Yet even amid all this darkness, there is hope. Despite our entire team in Gaza having been displaced from their homes at least once – with many losing loved ones – they continue to deliver lifesaving aid to their communities, such as medicines, medical supplies and aid for displaced people.
This includes in the north of Gaza where the situation is most critical, and where MAP is one of the only international organisations still able to operate. The bravery of our colleagues amid personal tragedy is remarkable, but it should not be necessary.
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While their incredible efforts are a matter of life and death to those we have reached, they are not sufficient to meet the overwhelming needs of people in Gaza. Only through an immediate and permanent ceasefire will the situation improve, and only when Israel allows humanitarian aid to enter unfettered, through land crossings – and not through small-scale airdrops – will a sufficient response begin. It is essential that world leaders understand the gravity of the situation in Gaza and do more to pressure Israel to act. Time is running out and hundreds of thousands of people’s lives depend on it.
However, a ceasefire alone is not enough. Returning to the status-quo is not an option. The root causes that have fuelled this latest escalation in violence, including Israel’s 17-year illegal closure and blockade of Gaza, must be addressed comprehensively. Only then can any semblance of Palestinians’ rights to health and dignity be restored.
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As well as addressing the political barriers, donations play a crucial role in alleviating the suffering of the Palestinian people, and rebuilding the shattered healthcare infrastructure. Financial support is not only a lifeline for those affected, but also a powerful expression of solidarity.
Your support can help to address critical health needs in the immediate and long-term future. MAP has been serving the Palestinian people for 40 years, including for more than a quarter of a century in Gaza, and we will continue to ensure people get the healthcare they have a right to for as long as we are needed.
We all have a duty to support the people of Gaza and the time for action is now.
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