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FROM THE FIELD

CRISIS IN GAZA: CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES RESPONDS
13 Jan 2009 16:57:00 GMT
 Source: Catholic Relief Services (CRS) - USA
Liz O'Neill

Website: Website: http://www.crs.org

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As the conflict in Gaza and Southern Israel continues, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) will provide 500 war-affected families in Gaza with desperately needed food and other humanitarian relief supplies. With a $250,000 grant from the U.S. Agency for International Development and $100,000 from its American donors, CRS will distribute food, hygiene items, blankets, candles, and other essentials.

Since the fighting began on December 27, approximately 900 Gazans have been killed and thousands more wounded; 13 Israelis have also been killed. Many Gazan families are without electricity, water or food; some are living in shelters or with host families.

"We will work closely with our partners in Gaza to deliver these supplies when conditions permit the safe movement of staff," says Matt Davis, country representative for CRS' Jerusalem, West Bank and Gaza program. "Aid distribution will be difficult and dangerous as a result of the closure of border crossings between Israel and Gaza, bottlenecks at open crossings and ongoing military strikes from the ground, air and sea within Gaza."

Since cooking fuel is not available, CRS will provide ready-to-eat items like tuna, canned meat, cheese, dates, and high-protein crackers. On January 7, Israel announced it would halt military strikes for a three-hour period each afternoon to allow much-needed humanitarian assistance to be distributed. CRS is working closely with the United Nations, other international organizations and local partners to ensure a fast and efficient response to the most vulnerable families during these windows of time. CRS' office in Cairo is also monitoring the situation and is ready to respond. "We are on standby to provide relief if there are Palestinian refugees from Gaza who are allowed to come to Egypt," says Luc Picard, country representative for CRS Egypt.

CRS' regular programs in Gaza are temporarily on hold because its staff and partners have largely been confined to their homes as a result of the fighting. Once security allows, CRS will resume programs that give impoverished women jobs, train youth in nonviolence and conflict resolution, distribute food, and provide psychosocial counseling for traumatized women and children.

In addition to its humanitarian response, CRS and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) are calling for strong U.S. diplomatic leadership, together with international partners, to achieve an immediate, comprehensive cease-fire that ends the escalating violence between Israel and Hamas, addresses the humanitarian situation, and leads to concrete steps toward a two-state peace agreement—the best hope for long-term stability and security for both Israelis and Palestinians.

How to Help: Donate via phone: 1-877-HELP-CRS Donate online: www.crs.org Write a check: Catholic Relief Services P.O. Box 17090 Baltimore, Maryland 21203-7090

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Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the U.S. Catholic community. The agency provides assistance to people in more than 100 countries and territories based on need, regardless of race, nationality or creed. For more information, please visit www.crs.org or www.crsespanol.org.


[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]

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[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]

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