A complete and lasting ceasefire is the only way to end the cycle of death, destruction, and loss for millions of civilians in the region, warns the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) as we approach the first anniversary of the escalation of hostilities in Israel and Gaza.
Israel-Gaza conflict: Only ceasefire can end suffering for civilians after catastrophic year
“This has been a devastating year,” said Jan Egeland, NRC secretary general. “For 12 months, the horrific events in the occupied Palestinian territory, Israel, and Lebanon have wrought havoc, and we are now on the cusp of an all-out regional war. Hundreds of thousands of civilians have been killed, injured, or displaced, and vast numbers of innocent children remain traumatised, hungry, and sick. One year on, we are now no closer to a ceasefire agreement than we were during the darkest days of hostilities.
“Governments must realise that so long as weapons continue to flow to Israel and non-state armed groups, the war machines continue to be fuelled, and the suffering of civilians will be, in no small part, the responsibility of those who bring fuel to the fire. They hold the key to bringing this tragedy to an end, and they must do everything in their powers to achieve that.”
Despite immense challenges, NRC continues to offer support for families throughout the occupied Palestinian territory and Lebanon. In Gaza, our teams have managed to remain operational despite multiple displacements and disruptions. The volume of aid that has entered Gaza over the last year has never come close to meeting ever-growing needs. On average, 50 trucks per day have crossed into Gaza in September, the lowest yet.
"The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has reached an unbearable level. The scale of damage and loss is so immense that it will take many years to reverse, but NRC will stay and continue to support communities in all ways possible. My colleagues put their lives on the line to provide the aid that we are able to receive into Gaza. Hundreds of thousands of people are still without proper access to basic necessities, like shelter, food and clean water. The needs remain so vast against aid supplies because of Israeli restrictions, the erosion of the social fabric, and a breakdown of law and order. All crossings into Gaza must be opened to allow for a scaling up of aid. There is no excuse for allowing this suffering to continue," said Egeland.
Notes to editors:
- In Israel, 1,200 have been killed and over 5,400 injured after the 7 October attacks by armed groups from Gaza (OCHA).
- Israel’s ensuing large-scale assault across Gaza has killed over 41,615 and left over 96,000 injured (Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza). More than 10,000 have been reported missing under the rubble (OCHA).
- At least 306 humanitarians and over 900 medical workers have been killed in Gaza (OCHA).
- An estimated 1.9 million Palestinians in Gaza (90 per cent) are now displaced, with many experiencing multiple forced displacements as a result of persistent Israeli relocation orders (OCHA).
- Aid supply has reached the lowest levels since October 2023 (OCHA).
- According to the Lebanese government, in Lebanon, 1,640 have been killed in Israeli airstrikes in the last week alone. Over one million people in Lebanon have been displaced since October 2023.
- The Israeli government reports that 34 people in northern Israel and 12 children in the Israeli-occupied Golan heights have been killed since the 8th of October 2023 (Amnesty International).
- Over 68,000 people remain displaced from northern Israel and 75,200 people remain displaced from Israel’s Gaza periphery (Knesset).
- At least 693 Palestinians in the West Bank have been killed since 7 October. At least 23 Israelis, including 17 members of Israeli forces and five settlers, were killed by Palestinians in the West Bank (OCHA).
- Settler violence has reached an all-time high with 1,390 incidents reported since 7 October. Israel has demolished 1,725 properties in the West Bank since 7 October. (OCHA)
- NRC has 45 national staff and 4 international staff operating in Gaza. The organisation provides humanitarian assistance throughout the enclave, addressing multi-sectoral humanitarian needs south of Wadi Gaza, and, for the first time since October 2023, has recently resumed providing assistance in northern areas.
- NRC programmes in Gaza include:
- Site management support to displaced families living in underserved makeshift sites
- Provision of emergency shelters and core relief items, safe drinking water, sanitation facilities and hygiene items to the population living in over 40 IDP sites
- Psychosocial support sessions and recreational activities to displaced children
- Specialised protection assistance to the most vulnerable
- Legal counselling and assistance to displaced families
- Multipurpose Cash Assistance to the most vulnerable displaced families
Multimedia content:
- Photos and videos are available can be downloaded for free use here.
For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:
- NRC global media hotline: media@nrc.no, +47 905 62 329
- Ahmed Bayram, Middle East and North Africa regional media advisor: ahmed.bayram@nrc.no, +962 790 160 147
“This has been a devastating year,” said Jan Egeland, NRC secretary general. “For 12 months, the horrific events in the occupied Palestinian territory, Israel, and Lebanon have wrought havoc, and we are now on the cusp of an all-out regional war. Hundreds of thousands of civilians have been killed, injured, or displaced, and vast numbers of innocent children remain traumatised, hungry, and sick. One year on, we are now no closer to a ceasefire agreement than we were during the darkest days of hostilities.
“Governments must realise that so long as weapons continue to flow to Israel and non-state armed groups, the war machines continue to be fuelled, and the suffering of civilians will be, in no small part, the responsibility of those who bring fuel to the fire. They hold the key to bringing this tragedy to an end, and they must do everything in their powers to achieve that.”
Despite immense challenges, NRC continues to offer support for families throughout the occupied Palestinian territory and Lebanon. In Gaza, our teams have managed to remain operational despite multiple displacements and disruptions. The volume of aid that has entered Gaza over the last year has never come close to meeting ever-growing needs. On average, 50 trucks per day have crossed into Gaza in September, the lowest yet.
"The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has reached an unbearable level. The scale of damage and loss is so immense that it will take many years to reverse, but NRC will stay and continue to support communities in all ways possible. My colleagues put their lives on the line to provide the aid that we are able to receive into Gaza. Hundreds of thousands of people are still without proper access to basic necessities, like shelter, food and clean water. The needs remain so vast against aid supplies because of Israeli restrictions, the erosion of the social fabric, and a breakdown of law and order. All crossings into Gaza must be opened to allow for a scaling up of aid. There is no excuse for allowing this suffering to continue," said Egeland.
Notes to editors:
- In Israel, 1,200 have been killed and over 5,400 injured after the 7 October attacks by armed groups from Gaza (OCHA).
- Israel’s ensuing large-scale assault across Gaza has killed over 41,615 and left over 96,000 injured (Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza). More than 10,000 have been reported missing under the rubble (OCHA).
- At least 306 humanitarians and over 900 medical workers have been killed in Gaza (OCHA).
- An estimated 1.9 million Palestinians in Gaza (90 per cent) are now displaced, with many experiencing multiple forced displacements as a result of persistent Israeli relocation orders (OCHA).
- Aid supply has reached the lowest levels since October 2023 (OCHA).
- According to the Lebanese government, in Lebanon, 1,640 have been killed in Israeli airstrikes in the last week alone. Over one million people in Lebanon have been displaced since October 2023.
- The Israeli government reports that 34 people in northern Israel and 12 children in the Israeli-occupied Golan heights have been killed since the 8th of October 2023 (Amnesty International).
- Over 68,000 people remain displaced from northern Israel and 75,200 people remain displaced from Israel’s Gaza periphery (Knesset).
- At least 693 Palestinians in the West Bank have been killed since 7 October. At least 23 Israelis, including 17 members of Israeli forces and five settlers, were killed by Palestinians in the West Bank (OCHA).
- Settler violence has reached an all-time high with 1,390 incidents reported since 7 October. Israel has demolished 1,725 properties in the West Bank since 7 October. (OCHA)
- NRC has 45 national staff and 4 international staff operating in Gaza. The organisation provides humanitarian assistance throughout the enclave, addressing multi-sectoral humanitarian needs south of Wadi Gaza, and, for the first time since October 2023, has recently resumed providing assistance in northern areas.
- NRC programmes in Gaza include:
- Site management support to displaced families living in underserved makeshift sites
- Provision of emergency shelters and core relief items, safe drinking water, sanitation facilities and hygiene items to the population living in over 40 IDP sites
- Psychosocial support sessions and recreational activities to displaced children
- Specialised protection assistance to the most vulnerable
- Legal counselling and assistance to displaced families
- Multipurpose Cash Assistance to the most vulnerable displaced families
Multimedia content:
- Photos and videos are available can be downloaded for free use here.
For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:
- NRC global media hotline: media@nrc.no, +47 905 62 329
- Ahmed Bayram, Middle East and North Africa regional media advisor: ahmed.bayram@nrc.no, +962 790 160 147