Gaza ceasefire violations hampering aid deliveries
Continued fighting by both sides during the Israeli ceasefires in Gaza is severely hampering vital aid deliveries to civilians
Thursday 15 January 2009
Israeli forces are breaching their own ceasefires and Palestinian factions are simultaneously continuing to engage in military activity.
Ken Caldwell, Save the Children's Director of International Operations, said: "Disregard for the ceasefires is putting the lives of children and their families at risk.
"It also means aid workers cannot safely deliver vital humanitarian aid to civilians.”
"Nowhere in Gaza is safe. What we desperately need is a complete, immediate ceasefire," Mr Caldwell added.
We've also branded the amount of humanitarian aid getting into Gaza from outside as totally inadequate. It currently stands at approximately one eighth of the number of trucks required to reach Gaza, since the Israeli military operation began.
Around 500 trucks per day are needed to provide the bare minimum of essential food and supplies. By the beginning of the week Israeli authorities said only 900 trucks had been allowed through in total, since the conflict started almost three weeks ago.
Save the Children said that all parties must call an immediate ceasefire so that aid workers can help those in desperate need. We also call for the opening of the border crossings so that the necessary food, fuel, medical supplies and other essential commodities can enter Gaza.
What you can do
Act now. Text "CEASEFIRE" to 81819, email ceasefire@savethechildren.org.uk, or sign our online petition. Join over 170,000 others calling for an immediate ceasefire to end the conflict and stop the suffering of innocent children.
Donate to our Gaza conflict appeal. We're on the ground, but we need your help to reach those desperately in need.
Find out more about our response in Gaza, and our work in the occupied Palestinian territories.
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