Also there Caritas of Cuneo is contributing to the extraordinary collection for the humanitarian emergency in the Holy Land, to provide assistance and support to the affected population. They amount to 13,742.00 euros total i funds raised among the donations from parishes of the Diocese of Cuneo-Fossano, from private individuals and associations and from payments made to San Martino Foundation.
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has escalated dramatically since October 7, with more than 31,000 Palestinians killed in Gaza, 400 in the West Bank, 1,460 Israelis, and nearly 200 Lebanese.
The humanitarian conditions in Gaza are catastrophic: approximately 1.7 million displaced people, in extreme need of food, water, and sanitation. Healthcare in the enclave is collapsing. The most vulnerable people, including disabled people, pregnant or breastfeeding women, the injured, post-surgical patients, chronically ill people, and individuals with weak immune systems, are at grave risk. The reduction of medical services, exacerbated by the damage or evacuation of hospitals and medical centers, shortages of fuel, personnel, medicines, and shortages of blood and blood products, further exacerbate the situation.
Over 90% of the population, approximately 2.2 million people, have access to quantities of food insufficient for a healthy nutritional level. The situation is worsened by the severe shortage of cooking gas, pushing the population to depend on less safe energy sources, such as firewood and waste burning, increasing the risk of respiratory diseases.
Access to drinking water is seriously compromised. Only two of the three main pipelines from Israel function, providing around 1,100 cubic meters of water per hour for southern and central Gaza, while the northern governorates are completely without access to drinking water. The lack of fuel negatively affects the supply of water from wells, desalination plants, and various wastewater stations and pumps.
Education is completely disrupted. Since October, 625,000 students (100% of children in Gaza) have not received any type of education due to the use of schools as reception centers for displaced people or as a result of damage or destruction suffered (69% suffered substantial damage) .
These humanitarian needs reflect the gravity and complexity of the ongoing humanitarian crisis, highlighting the urgency of health, food, water access and educational support interventions to address the immediate and pressing needs of the affected population.
Interventions of Caritas Italiana in the Holy Land
Caritas Jerusalem activated humanitarian assistance and economic support in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem, including health services, psychological support, and distribution of basic necessities.
Caritas Lebanon responds to the emergency for Lebanese displaced people, providing assistance with basic necessities.
Italian Caritas financially supports efforts in Gaza, the West Bank, and Peace and Reconciliation projects, as well as coordinating updates and fundraising initiatives.
Future Commitments and Recommendations
Caritas Jerusalem plans to train mobile medical teams for Gaza and develop medium-long term projects for peace and reconciliation.
The importance of not organizing collections of goods but rather fundraising initiatives through the channels indicated in Donations.caritas.it is emphasized.
