by Charles Clayton

The intensely violent conflict that erupted in Gaza on December 27 has devastated families, leaving more than 250 children dead. Charles Clayton, World Vision’s director for Jerusalem, West Bank and Gaza, describes what the situation is like for the families caught in the middle.

Humanitarian and Protection Crisis
This escalation of violence is unprecedented in scope and destruction. The lives of nearly every child in Gaza and the lives of Israeli children in areas subject to attack have been endangered since violence intensified after persistent rocket attacks by Hamas on Israel and air strikes by the Israeli military on Gaza. On Saturday, January 3, Israel dispatched ground troops into Gaza.

On Thursday, January 8, the United Nations Security Council adopted resolution 9567 on Gaza calling for “an immediate, durable and fully respected ceasefire, leading to the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza” and for “unimpeded provision and distribution throughout Gaza of humanitarian assistance, including of food, fuel and medical treatment.”

Nevertheless, the violence continued with 40 air strikes throughout the night Friday, January 9 into Saturday, January 10. Air strikes and ground fighting continued on Friday even during the three-hour lull as both sides have not respected the supposed temporary calm. An estimated 21,200 people are displaced within Gaza, considerable areas of the Strip remain without electricity, water wells and sewage pumps are not functioning due to lack of electricity, and solid waste is piling up in the streets of Gaza.

Currently, World Vision has ten full time local staff in both North and South Gaza programme areas. They are all reported safe. It is too early, however, to assess the safety of all 4,240 registered children in the sponsorship program.

From December 27 to January 9, 800 Palestinians were killed and at least 3,300 injured according to Ministry of Health. Approximately 42% of those killed were women and children. Over 250 children have been killed. Since the ground operation started on January 3 the number of children fatalities has increased by 250%. Thirteen Israelis were killed, nine of whom were soldiers, three of whom were killed by Israeli fire. The figures on the number of Israelis injured are currently not available.

The unprecedented flare-up of violence follows an 18-month blockade on Gaza, enforced by Israel, which has crippled the Gazan economy and exacerbated the humanitarian crisis that has already driven families into dire poverty. Closed borders and restricted movement is hampering aid from reaching those most in need. Vital health, energy, and water infrastructure were already on the verge of collapse before December 27.

Several attacks on UN staff and installations in recent days reveal a chilling reality that no humanitarian work is safe in the current situation. On Monday, January 5, two UNRWA schools where hundreds of displaced people had fled were directly shelled by Israeli military—at least 33 Palestinian civilians were killed. A UN driver was killed on Thursday, January 8, which led to UNRWA suspending all aspects of its relief operation involving the movement of staff and goods.

The UN reiterates that “there is no safe space in the Gaza Strip—no safe haven, no bomb shelters, and the borders are closed and civilians have no place to flee” in this humanitarian and protection crisis.

World Vision’s Relief Plans
In Gaza, all attention has been shifted to this emergency intervention. World Vision is working towards procuring family emergency kits to be distributed to 8,000 families, approximately 50,000 people in both North and South Gaza Area Development Program (ADP) communities. These family emergency kits will contain basic food items along with some other vital essentials (including blankets and candles). World Vision is hoping to get supplies into Gaza as part of the Gaza Logistics Cluster headed by the World Food Programme.

As soon as the fighting ceases, WV will begin its rapid recovery work. With a target timeframe of six to nine months, WV’s relief response will contribute to other humanitarian and UN agencies efforts to get basic services in Gaza up and running again. An assessment will be conducted and specific activities will be based on needs within communities.

Relief work will be conducted with sustainable development principles in mind; activities to actively engage the communities and psycho-social interventions to help children and caregivers positively cope with trauma will be prioritized.

After this initial period of relief, WV will seek to transition back into its primary transformational development work through its long-term area development programs.

World Vision’s Advocacy
World Vision, a child-focused humanitarian organization, is deeply concerned about the lasting impact this violence is having on the affected populations especially the most vulnerable children and elderly.

World Vision continues to urge all parties to recommit to an immediate ceasefire and a peaceful solution to the current crisis, calling all sides to refrain from violence. World Vision calls for an end to the 18 month blockade of 1.5 million Palestinians in Gaza, which has devastated the Gazan economy, halted services, and rendered its people to be entirely dependent on humanitarian services.

Unfettered, safe humanitarian access must be granted to help all those in need. Humanitarian activity was suspended for two days because of Israeli attacks on UN staff, convoys and civilians seeking refuge in UN installations. The humanitarian corridor or three-hour lull, while providing a brief respite for the population, has not meant safety and security for relief operations to resume for a number of reasons.

On Friday, the third day of the lull, both air and ground clashes by both parties continued on levels similar to the other 21 hours per day. Further, a UN convoy was attacked on Thursday during the so called lull. The three-hour lull is not adequate. What is needed is free, safe, unfettered, and around-the-clock access for humanitarian aid to get to those who need it most.

World Vision continues to hold all parties to the conflict responsible for protecting the rights of children. The life of every child in Gaza is currently endangered. The safety of Israeli children in areas near the Israeli-Gaza border is also at risk.

World Vision is increasingly concerned about the lasting psychological impact of the current crisis as reports of severe trauma the children in Gaza is experiencing are utterly shocking. The Convention on the Rights of the Child stipulates that State Parties have an obligation under international humanitarian law to protect children. Israel, as a signatory to the Convention, must take all feasible measures to ensure protection and care of children who are affected by an armed conflict. Non-state actors, such as Hamas, are also bound by provisions in international law that uphold the special rights of children to protection. All should be held accountable for actions that contravene these rights.

Help provide relief to families affected by conflict in Gaza.