Food Security/ Access in Gaza
  • Hundreds of thousands of tons of aid intended for the Gaza Strip is piling up in cities across Egypt's North Sinai region, despite recent calls from the United Nations to ease aid flow restrictions to the embattled territory in the wake of Operation Cast Lead. Literally, food is rotting at the border.
  • OCHA says Rafah was closed to all cargo for the month of March, and was opened for just two days to send blankets and mattresses into the Gaza Strip. The Egyptian government has since refused to open the Rafah crossing to any cargo or non-medical humanitarian aid.
    Home gardens are a way to make Gazans less dependent on food aid coming in.

    NGOs in Gaza
  • The NGO Development Center did a rapid needs assessment with 50 local NGOs following the war in Gaza. They found that the vast majority cited the unstable political situation and Israeli occupation as the main detriment to their work. The challenges brought by this include a lack of unity among political parties, inability to reach ‘target groups’ to provide services, shifting organizational plans from development to relief, a shortage of supplies, and a shortage of funding.
  • In the Education, Health, and Agriculture sectors, rebuilding destroyed schools, health centers, and land continue to be a priority, while the Psychosocial sector needs are enormous.
  • Also rehabilitation for those injured is crucial.

    Safety of Medical Personnel in West Bank
  • Israeli soldiers and settlers continued their attacks on Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) medical teams during its humanitarian mission. On Friday, April 10, Israeli soldiers fired tear gas canisters directly at two PRCS volunteers in Bilin village, while they were assisting the wounded in the demonstration against the annexation wall. One PRCS volunteer was injured in the leg and the arm and the other was injured in the leg.
  • On Saturday, April 11, Israeli settlers attacked a PRCS ambulance and hurled stones at it while on route to transport a patient (old woman) to her home in Hebron old city, the patent and the teams were shocked and damage to the ambulance was reported.
  • Medical teams must be respected to do their job and not attacked in conflict.