Amman, Jordan, January 15, 2025 — The International Rescue Committee (IRC) welcomes the announcement today of a ceasefire in Gaza after 465 days of conflict. This ceasefire must be a turning point. It is a chance to shield civilians from further harm, achieve the release of hostages, and scale up humanitarian aid to meet the urgent needs of the population.
In Gaza, the need for such aid is truly massive. 90% of the population has been forcibly displaced, many numerous times. Infectious diseases such as polio and hepatitis A have spread due to unsafe water, overcrowded shelters, and battered infrastructure, while nearly all of Gaza’s hospitals have been damaged or destroyed in the fighting. IRC teams inside Gaza are seeing alarming rates of severe and acute malnutrition among children under five, with famine conditions predicted in parts of northern Gaza. These are the immediate humanitarian priorities on the ground.
David Miliband, IRC President and CEO, said,
“This ceasefire is essential and overdue. Too many lives have already been lost and ruined over the last 15 months of the conflict. The needs are immense, and need urgent attention. IRC teams on the ground have done outstanding work in the most difficult conditions. Many of these colleagues were displaced in makeshift shelters themselves. We are determined to expand our scale and impact as conditions allow. The scars of this war will be long-lasting, but a surge of aid is desperately needed to provide immediate relief to civilians. This will take flexible funding and the free flow of aid and aid workers. Done right, it can lay the foundations for the even harder work of development and peace.”