3 October 2024 — Nearly one year has passed since the beginning of the latest escalation of conflict in Gaza. Israeli forces launched deadly airstrikes and ground operations after Hamas and other armed groups attacked southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking over 200 hostages. Now, the conflict seems likely to escalate into a wider regional war.
The humanitarian situation for Palestinian civilians in Gaza is untenable. According to the UN, more than 41,000 Palestinians have been killed as a result of Israel’s ground and air operations. However, these figures do not factor in those who remain unaccounted for, or who have died of diseases and pre-existing health conditions due to the decimation of the health system. A further 95,000 people have been injured, and a quarter will require lifelong care, following amputations and spinal injuries.
All of Gaza’s population of 2.1 million is now in need of humanitarian assistance, and more than two million Palestinians - half of them children - are living without access to sufficient water, food, shelter and medical care. This has been compounded by the destruction of 60% of Gaza’s structures due to fighting and bombardment, including civilian infrastructure such as schools, religious buildings, hospitals and bakeries.
Amidst these dire conditions, humanitarian organizations, including the IRC and our partners, have been working to deliver humanitarian relief to Palestinians in Gaza. However, increasing restrictions on the delivery of life-saving humanitarian aid, including destruction of infrastructure, bureaucratic impediments, Israeli attacks on aid convoys and killings of aid workers, mean that many Palestinians in Gaza are not getting the aid they need to survive.
As the only way to protect Palestinian lives, and enable the release of the remaining hostages, the IRC continues to call for an immediate and lasting ceasefire. In the meantime, the IRC is calling on all parties with influence to put in place a “humanitarian reset” that will allow for an immediate and significant scale up of humanitarian aid to those in need.
The only way to fully address the humanitarian access challenges in Gaza is a ceasefire paired with a comprehensive “humanitarian reset” that includes immediate action to:
- Open all land border crossings to goods and personnel
- Streamline inspection processes and list of permitted supplies
- Facilitate eased entry of humanitarian and healthcare staff
- Ensure safe movement for all humanitarian and healthcare workers
- Fully reinstate critical services like water, power, and fuel supplies
Notes to Editors
In Gaza, the IRC has deployed 12 teams of emergency medical personnel (EMTs) on a rotational basis; launched a Community-based Management of Acute Malnutrition program and delivered 1,700 cartons of Ready to Use Therapeutic Food to northern Gaza. We are distributing 100,000 liters of clean drinking water per day; have trained caregivers on Psychosocial Support, provided men, women and children with protection services and connected caregivers with the Ahlan Family Corner social media campaign, which provides tips and coping strategies. IRC is also working with thirteen partners to deliver; Early Childhood Development, Child Protection, Women’s Protection and Empowerment, Health, Nutrition and Basic Needs and Wellbeing.