Since Hamas’ bloody invasion of Israel, that country has completely cut off the supply of water, goods and electricity to the Gaza Strip. Aid organizations such as Doctors Without Borders and the World Food Program advocate a ‘humanitarian corridor’.
On the fifth day after Hamas’ attack on Israel, the Israeli army continues to retaliate with heavy bombardments in the Gaza Strip. It says it has hit around 2,300 ‘Hamas targets’. As a result, according to Palestinian authorities, 1,078 people have already died in Gaza. On the Israeli side, the death toll stands at 1,200.
How long can our teams survive in total martial law? We need a humanitarian corridor.
Humanitarian crisis
Since the bloody invasion, Israel has completely cut off the supply of water, goods and electricity to the Gaza Strip. As a result, fuel can no longer enter Gaza and the only power station is in danger of running out of fuel. According to the authorities, 300,000 liters of diesel are still in stock, which can generate electricity for twelve hours. After that, Gaza can only count on power from solar panels. They can supply electricity for ten hours a day, says the local energy company.
Palestinian authorities and aid organizations warn of a humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip. The United Nations World Food Program is calling for a humanitarian corridor to facilitate the access of essential aid and medical personnel. According to the organization, some 800,000 people in Gaza and the West Bank do not have access to food and water.
Nine United Nations employees have been killed since the Israeli army began airstrikes. The UN agency UNRWA announced this on Wednesday. According to the organization, the staff were killed in their homes across the Gaza Strip.
Palestinian Red Cross
Doctors Without Borders is also sounding the alarm about the health situation in the Gaza Strip. “The situation is disastrous,” said Sarah Chateau, head of the Palestine program at Doctors Without Borders (MSF). “I don’t think anyone is safe in Gaza.” MSF has 300 Palestinian and 20 international staff in the Gaza Strip. “Some of our teams have been transferred to a United Nations building,” Chateau said. ‘The bombings were so massive that the risks were too great. How long can our teams survive in total martial law? We need a humanitarian corridor.”
The Israeli army also reportedly bombed the headquarters of the Palestinian Red Crescent aid group, the local equivalent of the Red Cross. For the time being there is no information about deaths or injuries. Israel says it is checking the information.