JERUSALEM, 30 January 2009--While some aid has crossed into Gaza, humanitarian access is still quite challenging, reports ACT International. Aid organisations continue to experience significant difficulty in sending staff and additional supplies into the area to support emergency relief work and begin recovery operations.
"Every morning at the Erez crossing, there are disappointed aid workers whose access has been denied," reported one ACT member staff. This week, two shooting incidents inside Gaza have had a negative impact on access with Israeli authorities closing the Erez crossing on Tuesday and Thursday.
"While it has been easier to move inside Gaza after the ceasefire, we still have significant difficulties getting in and out," said Liv Steimoeggen, the ACT representative for Palestine. She added that it is very hard to give guarantees as to when trucks will actually make it through the crossings into Gaza.
At the same time, there is an ever increasing need for more aid and humanitarian workers. In one survey, CARE reports that 89 percent of respondents said they have not received any assistance since the conflict started on 27 December 2008.
ACT assistance underway
On 16 January, ACT issued a revised appeal for US $5.4 million for emergency assistance and rehabilitation in Gaza and to smaller part in the West Bank. ACT members have been able to deliver some initial assistance, including:
Food and non-food items
- International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) and the East Jerusalem Young Men Christian Association (YMCA) have delivered fortified milk to more than 18,000 people, nutritional biscuits to 23,000 people and other food supplies to 2,240 persons.
- IOCC and YMCA have also distributed 220 single kilts, 1,000 blankets and 1,680 hygiene kits.
- DanChurchAid (DCA) has delivered fuel for the Gaza National Blood Bank and food aid including hot meals for approximately 1,500 persons, vegetable baskets to approximately 7,000 people, canned food baskets to approximately 5,000 people and 9,000 kilos of powdered milk.
Medical assistance and psychosocial care
- Department of Service to Palestinian Refugees (DSPR) has delivered medicines, supplies and fresh bedding to its clinics and is awaiting the delivery of 100,000 bottles of water along with nutritional biscuits.
- DSPR staff members are planning to rent a new building to re-establish its destroyed clinic in the Shaja'ih area of Gaza City
- ACT members are working together to begin psychosocial assistance through international staff and local partners. DSPR is working in partnership with a local mental health community center in Gaza and are coordinating with UNICEF for a psychosocial intervention. IOCC and YMCA are working through three youth centers.
- Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) has distributed hot meals, food supplies, medical supplies and blankets to the Al Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City
###
Mika Hentunen is a staff person with ACT member, FinnChurchAid.
ACT members Department of Service to Palestinian Refugees (DSPR), East Jerusalem Young Men Christian Association (YMCA), DanChurchAid (DCA), International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) and Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) are working together under a joint ACT appeal.
Action by Churches Together (ACT) International is a global alliance of churches and related agencies working to save lives and support communities in emergencies worldwide.
Media contacts:
Tomm Kristiansen, Communications Officer
(office: +41 22 791 6039 / mobile: +41 79 358 3171 / tkr@act-intl.org )
Sidney Traynham, Assistant Communications Officer
(office: +41 22 791 6711 / mobile: +41 79 681 1868 / sjt@act-intl.org )
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
An Israeli soldier looks on from behind a Palestinian flag during a demonstration against Israel's controversial separation barrier in the West Bank village of Ma'asarah, near Bethlehem January 30, 2009. REUTERS/Nayef ...
