Gaza aid on brink of collapse, warn NGOs
'Famine is no longer just a risk but is rapidly unfolding across nearly all parts of Gaza. Survival itself is slipping out of reach, and the humanitarian system is on the brink of collapse,' say NGOs
Published: 07:04 PM,Apr 17,2025 | EDITED : 11:04 PM,Apr 17,2025
Relatives of Abir Srour, who was killed in an Israeli strike, mourn during her funeral at the Indonesian Hospital in Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip. - AFP
The humanitarian aid system in Gaza is 'facing total collapse' because of Israel's blockade on aid supplies since March 2, the heads of 12 major aid organisations warned on Thursday, urging Israel to let them 'do our jobs'.
Israel has vowed to maintain its blockage on humanitarian aid to the war-ravaged territory, saying it is the only way to force Hamas to release the 58 hostages still held there.
'Every single person in Gaza is relying on humanitarian aid to survive,' the chief executives of 12 NGOs, including Oxfam and Save the Children, wrote in a joint statement.
'That lifeline has been completely cut off since a blockade on all aid supplies was imposed by Israeli authorities on March 2,' they said.
A survey of 43 international and Palestinian aid organisations working in Gaza found that almost all have suspended or drastically cut services since a ceasefire ended on March 18, 'with widespread and indiscriminate bombing making it extremely dangerous to move around', the NGOs said.
'Famine is not just a risk, but likely rapidly unfolding in almost all parts of Gaza,' they said. 'Survival itself is now slipping out of reach and the humanitarian system is at breaking point.'
'We call on all parties to guarantee the safety of our staff and to allow the safe, unfettered access of aid into and across Gaza through all entry points, and for world leaders to oppose further restrictions.'
Israel's renewed assault has killed at least 1,691 people in Gaza, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory, bringing the overall toll since the war erupted to 51,065, most of them civilians.
Meanwhile, Qatari Emir Shaikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani said on Thursday that Israel had failed to respect January's ceasefire agreement in Gaza, as he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.
'As you know, we reached an agreement months ago, but unfortunately Israel did not abide by this agreement,' said the ruler of Qatar, a key mediator of the deal.
A truce in Gaza between Israel and Hamas, brokered by Qatar with Egypt and the United States, came into force on January 19, largely halting more than 15 months of fighting triggered by Palestinians October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.
The initial phase of the truce ended in early March, with the two sides unable to agree on the next steps. Israel resumed air and ground attacks across the Gaza Strip on March 18 after earlier halting the entry of aid.
Israel said that it had converted 30 per cent of Gaza into a buffer zone in the widening offensive.
Shaikh Tamim said Qatar would 'strive to bridge perspectives in order to reach an agreement that ends the suffering of the Palestinian people, especially in Gaza'.
Putin recognised Qatar's 'serious efforts to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict' and called deaths in the conflict 'a tragedy'.
'A long-term settlement can only be achieved on the basis of the UN resolution and first of all connected to the establishment of two states,' he added. - AFP
Israel has vowed to maintain its blockage on humanitarian aid to the war-ravaged territory, saying it is the only way to force Hamas to release the 58 hostages still held there.
'Every single person in Gaza is relying on humanitarian aid to survive,' the chief executives of 12 NGOs, including Oxfam and Save the Children, wrote in a joint statement.
'That lifeline has been completely cut off since a blockade on all aid supplies was imposed by Israeli authorities on March 2,' they said.
A survey of 43 international and Palestinian aid organisations working in Gaza found that almost all have suspended or drastically cut services since a ceasefire ended on March 18, 'with widespread and indiscriminate bombing making it extremely dangerous to move around', the NGOs said.
'Famine is not just a risk, but likely rapidly unfolding in almost all parts of Gaza,' they said. 'Survival itself is now slipping out of reach and the humanitarian system is at breaking point.'
'We call on all parties to guarantee the safety of our staff and to allow the safe, unfettered access of aid into and across Gaza through all entry points, and for world leaders to oppose further restrictions.'
Israel's renewed assault has killed at least 1,691 people in Gaza, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory, bringing the overall toll since the war erupted to 51,065, most of them civilians.
Meanwhile, Qatari Emir Shaikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani said on Thursday that Israel had failed to respect January's ceasefire agreement in Gaza, as he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.
'As you know, we reached an agreement months ago, but unfortunately Israel did not abide by this agreement,' said the ruler of Qatar, a key mediator of the deal.
A truce in Gaza between Israel and Hamas, brokered by Qatar with Egypt and the United States, came into force on January 19, largely halting more than 15 months of fighting triggered by Palestinians October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.
The initial phase of the truce ended in early March, with the two sides unable to agree on the next steps. Israel resumed air and ground attacks across the Gaza Strip on March 18 after earlier halting the entry of aid.
Israel said that it had converted 30 per cent of Gaza into a buffer zone in the widening offensive.
Shaikh Tamim said Qatar would 'strive to bridge perspectives in order to reach an agreement that ends the suffering of the Palestinian people, especially in Gaza'.
Putin recognised Qatar's 'serious efforts to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict' and called deaths in the conflict 'a tragedy'.
'A long-term settlement can only be achieved on the basis of the UN resolution and first of all connected to the establishment of two states,' he added. - AFP