Emergency in Gaza
We need an urgent and lasting ceasefire to address the catastrophic needs, scale up aid and save lives.
What is the situation?
On 7 October 2023, Palestinian armed groups in Gaza fired a barrage of rockets toward southern Israeli communities. They entered Israeli communities, killing 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took around 240 hostages. Some of the hostages have now been released in a swap deal.
Israel has since transformed its 16 years of almost complete into a total siege on Gaza and launched the bloodiest offensive against Gaza for years.
Israel’s indiscriminate bombardment across Gaza has destroyed buildings, public facilities and infrastructure. Most homes are now unliveable and almost the entire population is displaced.
Forecasts predict a grim outcome: more lives lost to disease and malnutrition, surpassing the already high civilian death toll from active hostilities.
What is NRC doing to help?
Severe restrictions on aid access and delivery have aggravated the situation, leading to starvation among Gaza's population, intensifying an already dire humanitarian crisis. Critical shortages of food, water, electricity, and fuel persist. In between the bombardment, the chaos and the panic, NRC has been able to provide support to people in need.
Our response so far includes:
- tents, shelter kits, blankets, mattresses and hygiene items
- clean water and hot meals
- emergency cash assistance
- play-based activites and psychosocial support programmes for children
What are we asking for?
We are advocating for an urgent and lasting ceasefire in Gaza and Israel, along with an immediate de-escalation of tensions in the West Bank, as an immediate action to save lives and avert a worsening humanitarian catastrophe.
The international community has a responsibility to act now.
Only a ceasefire will allow us to ensure effective relief to the two million people who so desperately need it.
