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Muna washing at her tent where she currently lives, Gaza. Photo: Alef Multimedia/ Oxfam

The people of Gaza need you!

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The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has now been going on for a year. More than 40,000 people have been killed, including over 11 000 of these are children. 1.9 million people have been forced from their homes and the entire population is at risk of starvation. Without hospitals, water and food, the situation is desperate.

Oxfam is on the ground and we have reached over 770,000 The support includes food parcels with fresh vegetables and cash assistance. Oxfam and partners are distributing hygiene kits, medicine and first aid to particularly vulnerable women. We train midwives and distribute kits to new mothers for the first critical period after childbirth.

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314 628

people have received food and cash assistance

56 531

people have been protected

587 136

people have received water and sanitation services

"We have nothing"

- We have no food, no beds or blankets, we have nothing. We were dumped here and abandoned. We have no access to clean water, we drink salt water. We feel like we are going to freeze to death at night.

So says Muna, who was forced to flee with her family. They are now living in a tent camp, and they are far from alone. 1.9 million people have left their homes and the entire population is at risk of starvation. Water shortages are acute, allowing deadly diseases to spread rapidly.

Hear Muna talk about her situation in the video.

What is Oxfam doing right now?

Despite very difficult conditions, Oxfam and our partner organizations have reached over 770,000 people in Gaza in the last year. During the winter we distributed blankets and other items to keep warm, now we distribute food parcels with fresh vegetables, and we distribute cash assistance. We distribute hygiene kits, medicine and first aid to particularly vulnerable women. Our partners provide essential medical care, train midwives and distribute kits to new mothers for the first critical period after childbirth.

Our impact report on the year in Gaza

Oxfam's partner PARC prepares food parcels in southern Gaza. Photo: PARC/ Oxfam

→ Oxfam condemns all violence that has affected and continues to affect Israeli and Palestinian civilians. 

We are deeply appalled by the serious violence against Israeli civilians and the escalating violence against civilians in Gaza. Attacks that deliberately target civilians are never justified. All parties must respect international humanitarian law and stop the violence. We have witnessed the deadliest day for civilians in Israel's modern history and the deadliest year in the West Bank since UN measurements began. In the last year, morewomen and childrenhavebeen killed in Gaza by the Israeli military than in any other contemporary conflict in a single year. 

 

→ Oxfam calls for an immediate and permanent ceasefire

Civilians on all sides are paying the price for their leaders' failure to resolve a conflict that has led to the longest occupation in modern history. The escalation of violence also underscores the failure of world leaders to address the occupation and blockade. If the international community does not actively work to address these root causes, the cycle of human rights violations and violence will only continue. Humanitarian pauses are not enough; a permanent ceasefire is needed to truly protect and support all people in Gaza.

 

→ Humanitarian aid must be allowed to enter safely into the affected areas.

All humanitarian operations are now completely stopped. It is impossible for organizations like Oxfam to start them up when the threat of bombs, rockets and bullets is present. Ordinary civilians have already borne the brunt of the violence and now the people of Gaza are doubly affected as the violence escalates and they are denied access to humanitarian aid.

What is happening in Gaza?

Since October 7, violence in Gaza and Israel has escalated significantly. On 7 October, Israel was attacked by the Hamas organization, killing 1200 Israelis and taking over 250 Israelis, including 38 children, hostage, 96 of whom are reported to still be held in Gaza.

Since then, the Israeli army has killed over 40,000 Palestinians in Gaza and over 91,000 have been injured. 1.9 million people have fled their homes. In the midst of all this, the Israeli government is blocking humanitarian aid routes and neither Oxfam nor other actors can fully carry out their work. Without a permanent ceasefire, the entire population of Gaza is at risk of starvation.

The International Court of Justice, ICJ, in a decision of January 26, 2024 ordered Israel to ensure that it does not commit genocide. Within one month of the decision, Israel was to report back on the measures it has taken to avoid genocide and improve the humanitarian situation. Oxfam noted on March 18, 2024 that Israel continues to block humanitarian aid from reaching the people of Gaza, thereby violating the ICJ's call.

"The government of Israel not only fails to facilitate the efforts of international humanitarian aid but actively prevents it. We believe that Israel is failing to do everything in its power to prevent genocide."

Sally Abi-Kahli, Oxfam Regional Director for the Middle East

Since then, the humanitarian situation has only gotten worse. In April, Oxfam reported that people in northern Gaza are forced to survive on 245 calories a dayand in July 2024 we released the report "Water War Crimes" which argues that Israel is using water as a weapon of war against Gaza, risking the spread of disease among an already suffering population. The risk of starvation, thirst and death is high. On October 1, 2024, Oxfam revealed that in the past yearmore women and children have been killed in Gaza by the Israeli military than in any other contemporary conflict in a single year. Civilian infrastructure has been attacked on average every three hours.

"We have already seen Israel's use of collective punishment and the use of starvation as a weapon of war. Now we are witnessing its use of water as a weapon, which is already having deadly consequences."

Lama Abdul Samad, Oxfam water and sanitation specialist

Swedish government, demand a ceasefire now!

Sweden must stand on the right side of history. An entire population is at risk of starvation - and we urge you to do everything you can to ensure that a permanent ceasefire is established immediately. The people of Gaza cannot wait.

Sign the letter to the Swedish government. 

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The humanitarian need is enormous 

More than 40,000 Palestinians have died. More than 1.9 million people have left their homes, and shortages of water, food and fuel are acute. Hospitals are either closed, overloaded or losing electricity supply. The humanitarian needs in Gaza are enormous.

Water shortages are acute, with each person estimated to have access to 2 liters of water each day - the daily need is 15 liters. 2000 people per shower and 500 people per toilet means that diseases are spreading rapidly. Cases of diarrhea are 40 times higher than last year.

In the midst of all this, the Israeli government is blocking humanitarian aid routes and neither Oxfam nor other actors can fully carry out their work. In the video, our colleague Bushra explains how humanitarian aid is blocked in Gaza in six ways.

Questions & answers

Oxfam has around 20We are in constant contact with them, ensuring every day that everyone is alive and safe. That's our most important job, although it's getting harder and harder to guarantee. Most people have been forced to leave their homes - some have lost their homes completely. It is an extremely traumatic and difficult time for everyone in Gaza, with everyone feeling unsafe and insecure, struggling to find shelter, food, water and electricity. Our colleagues are no exception.

Oxfam has been operating in Gaza and Israel since the 1950s. Therer works Oxfam works with local partners to support people in Gaza affected by the humanitarian crisis there.We are providing clean water, rebuilding damaged water systems and improving sanitation. We support local farmers to improve the quality of their products and get them sold, and we support civil society to fight for the human rights of the people. We campaign for sustainable peace and security for all civilians and an end to the blockade of Gaza.

Oxfam is on the ground in many countries, and the degree of need determines the response. The decision to bein a crisis is always made on the basis of humanitarian need.. Before the October 7th attacks, 80% of the people in Gaza were dependent on international aid.t support as a result of a 16-year blockade. The Israeli government, local and national organizations have sufficient capacity to meet the needs of its population, which Gaza does not have. Should the situation change Oxfam will review prioritization.

Attacks that deliberately target civilians are never justified. All parties must respect international humanitarian law and end the violence. Hostage-taking violates humanitarian law and Oxfam condemns all such acts.

Oxfam has staff on the ground in Gaza and is working with 9 trusted local organizations in Gaza and has maintained contact with them since 7 October. Our partners are now working under difficult circumstances, as they themselves are displaced. So far Oxfam and our partners have reached over 770,000 people in Gaza with parcels clothing, blankets and other items to keep warm, food parcels, cash assistance and hygiene kits. Oxfam is an impartial organization with well-proven procedures and controls to ensure that the support reaches reaches those who really need it, for example through trusted partner organizations who have many years of local knowledge. We at Oxfam are aware that theyt support that has the possibility to arrive now is not sufficientt for the more than 2 million people in Gaza, making a permanent ceasefire even more important.

The crisis in Lebanon has escalated following the failure to reach a ceasefire in Gaza. Hundreds of thousands of people have been forced to flee their homes due to Israeli air strikes. Oxfam has been working in Lebanon since 1993 and now focuses on supporting these people with water and sanitation services, cash assistance, food and hygiene products. For decades, the people of Lebanon have endured one crisis after another with no chance of recovery.

Oxfam calls on the international community to condemn the escalation and to act to stop it now. Israel must be held accountable for its actions in both Lebanon and Gaza. All parties must comply with international humanitarian law and be held responsible for any violations. Read more about what is happening in Lebanon.

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