In Gaza, where Oxfam works to promote economic opportunities and protect women from gender-based violence, Oxfam teams are preparing for a humanitarian response.
The conflict in Israel and Gaza continues to take a devastating toll on civilians across the region. The terrifying escalation of violence in Gaza has left the entire population of 2.2 million people in urgent need of humanitarian support, with the number of displaced people has exceeding 1.9 million.
The healthcare system has collapsed, as hospitals can't function without electricity, leading to a shutdown of essential lifesaving equipment and the inability to preserve vital medications. The aid deliveries that have been allowed to enter Gaza fall drastically short of meeting basic needs, and the fuel required to run generators and equipment crucial to producing food, operating hospitals and water and sanitation facilities. Without an immediate ceasefire agreement, the suffering of Gaza's civilians will continue to worsen exponentially.
According to authorities, more than 23,708 people in Gaza have been killed, 70% of whom are women and children. There are estimates that over 6,005 people are injured, with 8,000 people reported missing under the rubble, including at least 4,400 children. Violent confrontations continue across cities within the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
As temperatures drop, people in Gaza are in desperate need of emergency shelter, medical supplies, food, water, essential items, and psychological support. Vital infrastructure, including sewage treatment facilities, has been damaged or destroyed, raising the risk of disease. Palestinian women and girls face heightened risks in the conflict due to overcrowded shelters, shared sanitation facilities, gender-based violence, along with critical gaps in health services and supplies impacting their well-being.
As soon as it is safe to do so, Oxfam intends to expand its work with partners in Gaza to provide:
• providing people with clean water, sanitation, and hygiene items
• food and other essential household items for people who have lost their homes or their incomes
• emergency shelters, if needed
• rehabilitation of water and wastewater networks that have been destroyed in the bombing
Your emergency gift today will help provide life-saving aid to people in Gaza affected by the ongoing violence and humanitarian crisis.
