Gaza, “Brussels must act decisively against the Palestinian famine”: the appeal of 10 NGOs

Ten NGOs have written an open letter to the European Union calling for four urgent measures to be taken to prevent famine in Gaza, including calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire and stopping the transfer of weapons to Israel. The signatories are: ActionAid International, Act Church of Sweden, Christian Aid Ireland, Diakonia […]

Ten NGOs have written an open letter toEuropean Union for four urgent measures to be taken to prevent famine in Gaza, including calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire and ceasing the transfer of weapons to Israel. The signatories are: ActionAid International, Act Church of Sweden, Christian Aid Ireland, Diakonia Sweden, Euro Child, Handicap International – Humanity & Inclusion, Médecins du Monde International Network, Oxfam, Pax Christi International, Plan International.

“Dear commissioners, we urge the European Union to act immediately to respond to the urgent needs of Gaza’s civilian population and to support an immediate and permanent ceasefire to end the war. Israel’s relentless bombing of Gaza and daily hostilities have had catastrophic consequences, including tens of thousands of civilian casualties – including more than 13,000 children – mass forced displacement, and the destruction of homes and critical infrastructure. The situation has reached a critical point, with the chronic and structural denial of food and drinking water impacting the civilian population, leading to an imminent risk of famine. According to the latest analysis conducted by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), famine is predicted to occur any time between now and May 2024 in the northern governorates of Gaza and North Gaza, with the risk that it will also extend to the rest of the Gaza Strip”, reads the letter.

And he continues: “The impact of the war on civilians is devastating: half the Palestinian population of Gaza is already grappling with catastrophic food insecurity while the rest with emergency or crisis levels of food insecurity. Rates of acute malnutrition are alarming, especially among children, and access to essential services such as healthcare and clean water is severely limited. The 5,500 women giving birth in Gaza need water, food and electricity to protect the lives of their children, as well as their own. To address famine, food alone is not enough, but it is necessary to ensure that drinking water and other basic necessities are available in sufficient quantities and that there is a solid health system capable of treating people suffering from malnutrition and of diseases that their weakened bodies can no longer fight. Israel has destroyed civilian infrastructure related to water supplies and hospitals, killed health workers and prevented medical supplies and essential aid from reaching Gaza. It’s time to act“.

These are the requests: “We urge the European Union to: 1. Call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire to end the war in Gaza and protect civilians from further harm. 2. Ensure that Israel complies with its obligations under international humanitarian law and adhere to the interim measures of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to prevent genocide and facilitate unhindered access of humanitarian aid to Gaza through all available channels. While sea and air routes provide a complement, they cannot replace the efficiency of land routes, which are much faster and capable of timely delivery of aid on a large scale, and should only be used as a last resort. 3. Prioritize funding and support for UNRWA and other Palestinian and international humanitarian organizations working on the ground in Gaza to provide vital assistance, including food, water, shelter and medical care, to those in need. The rights, needs and health of women and girls must take priority. 4. Stop the transfer of weapons and suspend the Association Agreement with Israel to ensure compliance with international humanitarian law and human rights standards,” the NGOs continue.

Finally, the letter ends with a direct appeal to Brussels: “It is very important that the European Union acts decisively to address the catastrophic humanitarian crisis in Gaza and upholds its obligations under international law to protect civilians in times of conflict. Failure to act quickly and decisively risks exacerbating the suffering of innocent civilians and perpetuating the cycle of violence and instability in the region. We urge you to prioritize the protection of civilian lives and work towards a sustainable solution that ends the catastrophic suffering in Gaza. Our common humanity must prevail.”