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\n<\/p>\n
A first, but limited,
\nshipment of life-saving humanitarian supplies from the United Nations\u00a0and
\nthe Egyptian Red Crescent entered Gaza today on\u00a020\u00a0trucks, passing through the Rafah Crossing.<\/p>\n
It will provide an urgently needed lifeline to some of the hundreds
\nof thousands of civilians, mostly women and children, who have been cut off
\nfrom water, food, medicine, fuel \u00a0and other essentials.\u00a0But it is only a small beginning and far from enough. More than 1.6
\nmillion people in Gaza are in critical need of humanitarian aid. Children,
\npregnant women and the elderly remain the most vulnerable.\u00a0Nearly half of
\nGaza\u2019s population are children.<\/p>\n
With so much civilian infrastructure in Gaza\u00a0damaged or destroyed in
\nnearly two weeks of constant bombings, including shelters, health facilities,
\nwater, sanitation, and electrical systems, time is running out before mortality
\nrates could skyrocket due to disease outbreaks and lack of health-care
\ncapacity.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hospitals are overwhelmed with casualties. Civilians face mounting
\nchallenges in accessing essential food supplies. Health facilities no
\nlonger have fuel and are running on small amounts they have secured locally.
\nThese are expected to run out in the next day or so. Water production capacity
\nis at 5 per cent of normal levels. Pre-positioned humanitarian supplies have
\nalready been depleted. Vulnerable people are at greatest risk and children are dying at an alarming rate and being denied their right to protection, food, water and health care.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nearly
\none-third of the population of Palestine was food insecure before this conflict
\nin Gaza. Today stocks in shops are nearly exhausted and bakeries are closing,
\nwhile tens of thousands of people are displaced and unable to cook or safely
\npurchase food.\u00a0<\/p>\n
We call for a humanitarian ceasefire, along with immediate,
\nunrestricted humanitarian access throughout Gaza to allow
\nhumanitarian actors to reach civilians in need, save lives and prevent further
\nhuman suffering. Flows of humanitarian aid must be at scale and sustained, and allow all Gazans to preserve their dignity.<\/p>\n
We call for safe and sustained access to water, food, health \u2013 including sexual and reproductive health \u2013 and fuel, which is necessary to enable essential services.<\/p>\n
We call for the protection of all civilians and civilian infrastructure in Gaza, including health-care facilities. <\/p>\n
We call for the protection of humanitarian workers in Gaza who are risking their lives in the service of others.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And we call for the utmost respect of international humanitarian law by all parties. <\/p>\n
Gaza was a desperate humanitarian situation before the most recent
\nhostilities. It is now catastrophic. The world must do more.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n