Following the horrific terrorist attack by Hamas terrorists against Israel and the aftermath, which has led to a disastrous humanitarian situation for the people of Gaza, the European Union has continued to step up its emergency assistance to the Palestinian people.
According to the statement released by the Commission, which launched an Humanitarian Air Bridge operation consisting of several flights to Egypt to bring lifesaving supplies to humanitarian organisations on the ground in Gaza.
The Commission added that the first two flights will take place this week, carrying humanitarian cargo from United Nations International Children Fund UNICEF including shelter items, medicines and hygiene kits.
Stating that this operation via the European Humanitarian Response Capacity will facilitate the delivery of assistance to people in need in Gaza. “Additional emergency items from EU emergency stockpiles are available and ready to be deployed to our humanitarian partners as soon as requested”.
As announced by President von der Leyen this weekend, the EU tripled its humanitarian assistance to over €75 million to support civilians in need in Gaza. “The funding will be channelled through selected EU humanitarian partners operating on the ground taking into account capacity and access”.
The EU has been providing humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in need since 2000, supporting vulnerable families affected by emergencies and shocks.
EU humanitarian aid is exclusively channelled through registered humanitarian organisations, including UN agencies, international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and international organisations such as the Red Cross/Crescent family.
“Our partner organisations are required to follow the highest standards, including strict reporting requirements and are subject to monitoring and inspection from EU humanitarian experts.
Furthermore, EU humanitarian aid is always provided on the basis of the humanitarian principles: impartiality, neutrality, independence and humanity.
Since Wednesday, Gaza has been experiencing full electricity blackout, which has brought essential health and water and sanitation services to the brink of collapse, hospitals only have a few hours of electricity each day as they are forced to ration depleting fuel reserves.
Recalled UN Office of the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the Department of Safety and Security in Gaza were informed by the Israeli liaison officers in Israeli military that the entire population of Gaza north of Wadi Gaza should relocate to southern Gaza within 24 hours.
This amounts to approximately 1.1 million people. The same order applied to all UN staff and those sheltered in UN facilities — including schools, health centres and clinics. “We consider it is impossible for such a movement to take place without devastating humanitarian consequences.
Israel who declared war on the Palestinian militant group Hamas after it carried out an unprecedented attack by air, sea and land on Saturday.
The large-scale surprise assault has left at least 900 dead in Israel, prompting a lethal volley of retaliatory Israeli airstrikes on Gaza that killed at least 687 people.
As they retreated into Gaza, the militants claimed to have taken at least 100 hostages with them and have threatened to kill them if airstrikes target Gaza without warning. Israel has pledged that Hamas will pay a heavy price.
The Israeli army also ordered 1.1 million Palestinians to get out of Gaza and move south within the next 24 hours while deadline is expected to have expired as Israel appears set for a massive ground invasion of Gaza with over 300,000 soldiers.